MARK Hughes is ready to reward Maceo Rigters for his patience by giving him the chance to impress against Coventry City in the FA Cup today.

The 23-year-old hit-man, who joined Rovers in a bargain £350,000 move from NAC Breda last summer, has endured a frustrating first season in England, making just one start and four appearances as a substitute, mainly because of the form of the players in front of him.

However, with injuries robbing Hughes of Roque Santa Cruz, Jason Roberts, and possibly Matt Derbyshire, for this afternoon's third round tie at Ewood, Rigters looks set to get a rare opportunity to show what he can do.

The Rovers boss, who has hinted he may also start with promising winger Keith Treacy in a revamped line-up, said: "Maceo has waited patiently for an opportunity and he's been training very well, so he will play some part.

"I haven't been able to give him as many chances as I'd have liked this season, in fairness.

"We knew he was a young striker with potential and that's why we brought him to the club.

"But early on in the season, the team was playing exceptionally well and then Maceo picked up a few little niggles so, at times, when there have been opportunities, I haven't been able to put him in for whatever reason.

"So he's had to be patient but he's looking strong now, he looks like he has come to terms with the pace of training and whatever, so I think he's more capable of coping with a game in the first team."

Although Rigters has been reduced to a bit-part role during the early months of his career with Rovers, Hughes has played down talk of the striker leaving the club on loan during the transfer window in order to gain more first team experience.

"I think there's been a little bit of a misunderstanding," said Hughes, referring to some comments made by the player's agent in the Dutch press earlier this week.

"Initially, we thought about sending Maceo out on loan to get him more first team experience, but that situation has since changed somewhat.

"I think his agent has jumped the gun and assumed that what was maybe the case two or three months ago, still applies. But it doesn't now."