BLACKBURN Rovers duo Craig Bellamy and Ryan Nelsen are facing a race against time in their battle to be fit for Saturday's Premiership opener with West Ham United.

Bellamy pulled out of a training session earlier this week after his ankle injury flared up again, while Nelsen only rates his chances of facing the Hammers as '50-50' because he's struggling to shake off the knee injury he picked up on the club's pre-season tour.

If both players end up missing the trip to Upton Park it would be a major blow to Rovers boss Mark Hughes, who is looking for his team to get off to a flyer in the capital as he begins his first full season as a Premiership manager.

New £4 million signing Bellamy remains the manager's biggest concern as the 26-year-old has missed Rovers' last four friendlies due to the ankle injury he sustained in Germany.

Hughes said: "Craig was playing against 1860 Munich when he got a little bang on the back of his ankle by the ligament.

"It's one of those injuries that shows great improvement in the initial week or so and then it's the last little part of the ligament that remains sore for a number of weeks afterwards.

"That's where we are with it at the moment."

Bellamy has got just 119 minutes of pre-season action under his belt and he hasn't kicked a ball in anger since that Munich game three weeks ago.

The former Newcastle striker now has 48 hours to prove his fitness and if he does then Hughes may throw him straight in against the Hammers.

The same also applies to Nelsen, who has missed Rovers' last three friendlies as a result of the knee injury he picked up in the game with Real Mallorca.

The New Zealander explained: "I went into a tackle and came out second best.

"I got a bit of a bone bruise and jarring in my knee, but it's not serious. I just had to keep off it for a couple of weeks.

"It's really frustrating because I'm raring to go. Things were going really well and the team is still going well.

"But that's life. That's what happens in the game. Hopefully, I can get it right by the weekend."

Meanwhile, Hughes has hit back at stories claiming Lorenzo Amoruso has been told he has not future at the club.

"You just sometimes wonder where these stories come from," said the Rovers boss.

"Lorenzo's situation is quite clear. He is still recovering from injury, he's just returned from rehab in Italy and we are hopeful that he will be fit to get involved next month.

"He remains very much part of the senior squad."

One Rovers player on the move is Academy defender Luke Jones, who has agreed to join Belgian Second Division club Cercle Brugge on a season-long loan.

Meanwhile, Rovers - due to security measures adopted by all Premiership clubs - have asked all fans to arrive early for home games. All bags will be searched at the turnstile.