BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes insists David Thompson is still very much part of his plans - even though he dropped him from the bench for Monday night's 2-1 win over Portsmouth.

Thompson is out of contract at the end of the season and he can now start talking to other clubs about a move in the summer.

But Hughes has not ruled out the possibility of the former Liverpool man staying on, providing he proves his worth. "There's a number of players who are out of contract in the summer and David is one of them," said the Rovers boss.

"He is doing very well at the moment. He hasn't had as much football as he would have liked of late, but it's very much in my mind to try and start involving him a little bit more."

Hughes added he will not make a decision on Zurab Khizanishvili until nearer the summer.