RAY Harford might be forced to call up the kids for at least one of Blackburn Rovers' two remaining matches.

And the Ewood boss, plagued by yet another crop of injury problems, is prepared to turn to teenage talents such as James Beattie and James Thomas if necessary. Harford will spend an anxious few days waiting to see if Kevin Gallacher returns unscathed from international duty with Scotland.

For his other strikers have been falling like ninepins.

Mike Newell looks to have very little chance of recovering from his hamstring injury in time for Saturday's final home game against Arsenal.

And Paul Warhurst is to go for precautionary x-rays on a foot injury. It looks a case of severe bruising at the very least.

Niklas Gudmundsson is still ruled out with a thigh injury and, with Alan Shearer recovering from surgery, Graham Fenton is the only recognised senior striker that the manager can be sure of pencilling in for Saturday.

Harford wouldn't want to shovel too much responsibility onto the shoulders of his young guns.

But he is delighted that the progress of players like Beattie, Thomas and the two Damiens, Duff and Johnson, has been such that they are capable of being in the picture.

"It's nice to see them coming through," he said.

"But I just cannot believe the injuries we have had this season.

"To be still in with a chance of finishing fifth is a great credit to the players, when you look at the injuries.

"They have done fantastically well for the club." Rovers still have a chance of snatching the last European place by finishing fifth but, to have any realistic chance, they will have to win their last two games, against Arsenal and away to Chelsea. And they will have to do it without Shearer, who has linked up with the England squad to start his rehabilitation.

"I've spoken to Alan and he was a little bit sore at the time, but everything seems to have gone well," said the manager.

"The muscle was torn and it was a sensible thing to have it done."

Shearer now seems to be on course for Euro '96, but he had to have the operation as soon as possible anyway - or risk making the damage any worse.

Meanwhile, Graeme Le Saux has said that he doesn't expect to be back in action by the start of next season.

It could be much longer than that, after his horrific injury just before Christmas.

Rovers Reserves visit Wolves tonight and are expected to choose from: Mimms, Croft, Whealing, Gill, Coughlan, Marker, Hitchen, Holmes, Beattie, Thomas, Duff, Morgan, Hope, Cassin.

A goal from Craig Chisholm gave Rovers A team a 1-0 win over Liverpool at Brockhall. The B team enjoyed a similar win over Carlisle with a goal from Junior Obeng.

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