THE wide men could return for Rovers this weekend to a faltering European campaign which looks likely to fall wide of the mark.

Happily, Jason Wilcox and Stuart Ripley have shaken off their injuries and could be included for the tough trip to Spurs. But it seems certain to be case of too little too late for Ray Harford's men.

Rovers, currently at least three wins behind one of the certain UEFA Cup spots with eight games to go, are destined to end the season with the words 'If only' ringing in their ears.

IF ONLY they had brought in some top class players to Ewood during the summer.

IF ONLY Rovers had managed to find some decent away form.

Harford takes his team back to the capital for the first time since beating doomed Queens Park Rangers 1-0 in January - the scene of their solitary away win this season. A pitiful record for the defending champions of the Premiership.

Even Harford's trusty right-hand man Tony Parkes admits that Rovers are relying on teams like Liverpool and Aston Villa winning the domestic Cup competitions to help them grab a Euro place.

He said: "If Villa win the Coca Cola Cup and Liverpool win the FA Cup, that means there will be more UEFA Cup places available which will certainly help us." The words IF ONLY again spring to mind.

Parkes added: "Losing three games on the trot has certainly dented our European hopes because prior to that we were on course for a UEFA Cup place.

"Now we will have to get a run going again and hope other results go for us."

And he admitted: "If we fail to qualify for Europe, our away form will be to blame.

"I just can't put my finger on why we have such a bad away record because we don't change our tactics. However I think the players have let it affect them."

The influential Lars Bohinen is likely to return for the trip to White Hart Lane. His spell out of the side with a calf injury coincided with Rovers recent demise.

And it's not going to be easy. Spurs are still licking their wounds after being dumped out of the FA Cup by Nottingham Forest in a penalty shoot-out.

Their Euro aspirations now rely on finishing as high as possible. In sixth place they are in the ideal position for a late charge.

Suspended Tim Sherwood is out of the clash so the more than capable Colin Hendry will wear the captain's armband.

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