BLACKBURN manager Mark Hughes is trying to sign the Bulgarian striker Valeri Domovchiyski on loan until the end of the season.

Hughes put the proposal to the player's representatives after he completed a two-week trial spell at Brockhall on Friday.

Now Rovers are awaiting an answer from Domovchiyski's Bulgarian club Levski Sofia, who, it is thought, would prefer to negotiate a permanent deal for the 21-year-old hitman instead.

Poor weather, coupled with a fragmented training programme, meant Domovchiyski's trial spell did not pan out entirely as planned.

However, the Bulgarian Under 21 international still showed enough over the fortnight to convince Hughes that he might be someone worth taking a gamble on.

That's why the Rovers boss is now trying to set up a loan, with a view to a permanent deal in the summer should the striker impress.

Hughes is eager to freshen up his squad during the window, in preparation for mounting a push for Europe during the closing months of the season.

But with finances tight, the Welshman accepts he cannot start spending the kind of money some of his rivals are splashing out in the quest for a top-six spot.

"Some of the clubs up there have great resources and we can't compete with that financially," said the Rovers chief.

"This club gives me every penny they have and I appreciate that.

"We bring players in if we can, and we pay decent money for players, but we can't pay big wages as well. That is how it is.

"There are lots of clubs with bigger budgets than us, but that's the way it is.

"We have got good quality and we have good players. But we do work in a difficult market."

In the meantime, Hughes praised his players' fighting spirit after they once again fought back from a goal down to claim a point against Middlesbrough at the weekend.

When David Wheater headed Boro in front, it was the 13th time in 14 games that Rovers had conceded the opening goal but, thanks to Matt Derbyshire's second half equaliser, they managed to claw their way back, thus extending their unbeaten run to five matches in the Premier League.

Hughes said: "First and foremost, you've got to stop goals going in at one end, then you can dictate the tempo of the game.

"But once again, we went behind in a game and then showed good character to get back on level terms again."