GEORGE Donis has been given the green light to rejoin Blackburn Rovers' squad for another relegation "six-pointer" against Southampton at Ewood tomorrow.

The Greek winger has been out of action for a month, first with a hamstring strain, then a groin injury, picked up on international duty.

He returned to training yesterday and caretaker-boss Tony Parkes expects Donis to challenge for a role against Saints.

But a place on the bench could be the best he can hope for, with Parkes unlikely to make much, if any, change to a team who started a Rovers revival.

"We expect George to be available and that's good news," said Parkes. "We want as many players in the picture as possible.

"He trained with the squad yesterday and looks okay. He will be in contention for a place." The return of Donis will give Parkes more options, should he decide on changes, and he had plenty of experience on the bench at Nottingham Forest on Monday.

He is also delighted with the way in which Graeme Le Saux has managed to come back from such a serious injury.

"Graeme is looking stronger and sharper all the time, he has done really well," said the caretaker-boss.

"But he still has to be a little careful about training between games, so as not to overdo things in the light of the seriousness of the injury he had.

"We don't want to get to another situation like the Chelsea game, where he had probably done just a little bit too much beforehand and suffered a reaction."

Graham Fenton (hamstring) is ruled out, while Marlon Broomes, impressive for the reserve team, joins the squad.

Rovers' starting line-up is expected to come from: Flowers, Kenna, Berg, Hendry, Le Saux, Sherwood, McKinlay, Flitcroft, Gallacher, Sutton, Wilcox, Bohinen, Ripley, Croft, Donis, Broomes, Given.

Parkes isn't displeased that tomorrow's opponents will be without one of their major stars, Matt Le Tissier, who has a thigh injury. "You are never sorry when the opposition have a goalscorer missing. While some people talk about the things Le Tissier doesn't do, what he can do is score goals," said Parkes.

Saints boss Graeme Souness seems unlikely to make too many changes from the team who drew at Oxford in a midweek Coca-Cola Cup tie.

But he sprang a surprise when he put triallist Aly Dia, who is a Senegal international recommended by George Weah, on the bench last week.

Souness warned his team: "They (Rovers) haven't become a bad side overnight. It's only 18 months since they won the championship. It will come good for them."

Ex-Rover Robbie Slater will be hoping to retain his place in the centre of midfield. Southampton are set to choose from: Woods, Van Gobbel, Lundekvam, Dryden, Dodd, Slater, Oakley, Charlton, Berkovic, Ostenstad, Watson, Magilton, Maddison, Monkou, Potter, Dia, Beasant.

Tickets will be available at Ewood until kick-off time (3pm).

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