LARS Bohinen's World Cup prospects are in jeopardy after losing his place in the Blackburn Rovers starting line-up.

And the Norwegian midfielder will be only one of a number of Ewood players anxiously awaiting the outcome of the club's search for a new manager.

Omitted from his country's squad for their next World Cup qualifying match in Switzerland, Bohinen said: "It's a big disappointment and it is partly the result of me being out of the Blackburn team.

"Though I did not play particularly well in the last international match (Norway beat Hungary 3-0).

"What I have to do is to try to get back into the Blackburn team.

"I don't know why I am not in the Blackburn XI. They might not see me as the kind of player for a relegation battle. But I have 47 caps for Norway, I think I can handle that." Dropped for the first time this season against Sheffield Wednesday, Bohinen's response was to come off the bench and immediately score a spectacular equaliser.

He was only among the substitutes, however, for the following two games - against Stockport and West Ham.

With a new manager still to be appointed, no-one knows what the future holds for several Ewood players, not only Bohinen. Billy McKinlay, for example, has had a contrasting experience to the Norwegian.

Another player whose international chances could well be affected by his absence from the senior scene at Ewood, McKinlay hadn't started a first team game this season until caretaker-boss Tony Parkes gave him his chance against West Ham last Saturday.

And he was, arguably, the best player on the field.

Bohinen added: "You just have to wait and see what happens when the new manager comes in."

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