BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer may get round the problem of which of his top centre-backs to leave out by playing all three.

The return of Grant Hanley from suspension has handed Bowyer a major selection poser.

It is one that could be answered for him at Brighton & Hove Albion today (3pm) if Tommy Spurr is ruled out through injury.

That would allow Matt Kilgallon to move to left-back and Hanley to return to the heart of the Rovers defence alongside captain Scott Dann.

But should Spurr be declared fit it would leave Bowyer with a major decision to make. He is unlikely to deviate from the four-man defensive system that he has operated all season for this afternoon’s Amex clash.

That means Bowyer would have to pick either Kilgallon or Hanley to partner Dann.

But in future he has hinted he could all accommodate all three in a new-look formation.

“It is certainly something that we spoke about in pre-season with the staff,” said Bowyer, who is an admirer of the way Brendan Rodgers has set up his Liverpool side this season.

“There are several clubs this year who are playing three at the back and we’ve got the option to do that now.

“And I think that’s important to have throughout the season.”

Spurr came off in last Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough after hurting his ankle.

He was initially expected to be sidelined for a fortnight but after a week working with the Rovers medical team he returned to training yesterday in a bid to prove he is ready to face Brighton.

“There are players here desperate for a shirt and if they get the opportunity it’s up to them to make sure they grab it and keep it,” said Bowyer, who also has the option of playing Josh Morris at left-back.

“Both Grant and Matt fall into that. Grant is an intelligent enough boy to know that once he was out the team that Matt could come in and keep his place.”

Kilgallon has started the last four games for Rovers.

The first came alongside Hanley in the 2-1 defeat to Wigan Athletic after skipper Dann missed out with a groin strain.

Hanley was sent off in that match, meaning he had to watch on from the sidelines as Kilgallon and the fit-again Dann formed a partnership for the loss to Charlton Athletic, the draw with Blackpool and the win over Boro last time out.

Kilgallon, a summer arrival from Sunderland, believes he has done enough to keep his place in Bowyer’s line-up now that Hanley is back.

He said: “I get on with Grant and he’s a great player and the shirt was his at one point.

“Then he got suspended and I think it’s mine now.”