GRAHAM Fenton is hoping the future begins here and now, following his first Premiership goal for Blackburn Rovers.

But the former Aston Villa starlet is realistic and patient enough to be prepared to wait if things don't quite work out the way he would like just yet.

The 21-year-old Fenton, Wednesday night's Ewood matchwinner against Leeds United, heads South with a depleted Rovers squad for tomorrow's League game against Tottenham Hotspur.

And he is keeping his fingers crossed that he did enough during his 45-minute stint against Leeds to earn what would be only his second Premiership start since his £1.45 million move in November.

Rovers boss Ray Harford was singing the praises of his shooting star on Wednesday night, though he has also gone on record as saying that, when he snapped up Fenton, it was with an eye on the future.

So, has the "future" arrived yet?

"That's what I am hoping," said the striker who can also play in midfield. "But it depends on how Ray looks at it.

"I hope I have impressed him enough to be selected against Spurs. I don't know how he might be looking at it, as regards my fitness.

"I still think I am a little bit unfit because I haven't had enough games and I am looking to play as many as I can before the end of the season.

"Hopefully, if I do play tomorrow, things can snowball from there.

"But if I am to be in and out of the side then I'd love to get a good pre-season.

"Ray's a really good coach and if things don't happen for me this season, then I'll be ready to give it a go at the start of the next." Fenton's attempts to make a big impression at Ewood have been hampered by injuries.

It's difficult enough to settle in at a new club, without additional injury problems, but the Geordie is not the type to let things get him down.

"Three hamstrings in the first three months didn't help me or my fitness and it has just been a matter of getting in as many games as I could to try and get in the team," he said.

"I felt a bit sharper on Wednesday but not quite match fit.

"But I enjoyed getting on for the whole of the second half.

"If you only get 10 or 15 minutes as a substitute, it's a struggle to get into the game.

"Whereas if you get 45 minutes you can get into the pace of the game."

Like several other players, Fenton has had to take what he can get in terms of different positions, but he doesn't mind that.

"Obviously I would like to settle into one position," he added.

"But I don't really mind whether it's in midfield or up front, just so long as I am on the pitch."

With the crop of injury problems - allied to Tim Sherwood's suspension - having cut Harford's resources to the bone, there must be every chance of Fenton making only his second start in a Rovers shirt tomorrow.

The other was also in London, in the 1-1 draw with Wimbledon.

A similar outcome at White Hart Lane would probably be deemed satisfactory in the circumstances.

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