BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes will not be able to call on David Bentley for Saturday's farewell visit to Highbury.

The England Under 21 international, who was once described as the new Dennis Bergkamp, has been banned from playing in the fixture by Arsenal, who are worried he may return to haunt his paymasters.

Bentley, 21, joined Rovers from Arsenal on a season-long loan in August and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger insisted on inserting a clause into the deal which prevents the midfielder-cum-striker from facing the club he grew up at.

Thankfully, Hughes has plenty of options to cover for Bentley's absence with Steven Reid, Brett Emerton and the fit-again David Thompson all competing for a berth on the right hand side of midfield.

Emerton, who will be back in the squad again following his World Cup exploits with Australia, turned in a barnstorming performance on his last appearance for Rovers in the 4-1 demolition of Charlton, scoring his first Premiership goal since he bagged the equaliser in a 1-1 draw with West Brom at the Hawthorns in April.

However, with the team performing well, possession is ninth tenths of the law and Reid is hoping he can keep his place in the side, providing he shrugs off the effects of a dead leg which he sustained in the 0-0 draw with Manchester City last Saturday.

Reid, the Mr Versatile of Hughes' squad, believes Rovers have what it takes to get a positive result from what could be the club's last ever visit to Highbury.

Rovers have won six of their last nine games and the only sides to beat them during that sequence have been Chelsea, the current Premier League champions, and Liverpool, the reigning European champions.

As a consequence, confidence is coursing through the veins of Hughes' players, and there's a feeling within the camp that Rovers could mount a charge for Europe during the remainder of the campaign.

"The way we are playing at the moment, why not?" said Reid.

"We are not going to get carried away by (our recent run of results) but if you look at Chelsea, they are running away with it.

"I think the rest are all capable of beating one an another so you don't know where a few wins might take you.

"We are going into games now expecting to win and a lot of that is down to the manager.

"He had a winning mentality throughout his career and I think he's instilled that into us."

As for Saturday's visit to one of English football most famous citadels, Rovers will be eager to make some of their harshest critics eat their words by pulling off a famous coup.

Last season, Rovers were widely condemned in the national press for the manner of their performance against Arsenal in a tempestuous FA Cup semi-final at the Millennium Stadium.

But Reid and his team-mates have since developed a thick skin and all the flak that has come their way since has washed over them.

"It doesn't really bother us," added Reid.

"We've had plenty of critics in the last couple of years, but we don't really take much notice of what's written. We'll just carry on creeping up there and see where it takes us."