Dom Hyam will be on the bench for Blackburn Rovers against Southampton despite not being fully fit.

Jon Dahl Tomasson admits it is 'crazy' to include the defender, who only trained on Friday for the first time after two months out. Hyam injured his ankle against Millwall at the end of October and wasn't expected to return until later in the month.

However, after making good progress, Tomasson has decided to include the 27-year-old in the travelling squad to the South Coast. He admits Hyam is not fit to play more than '5 or 10 minutes' but feels his experience and dressing room impact makes it a risk worth taking.

"Yes, we have good news, we have tired players but no more injured players," Tomasson said. "I still have seven injured players.

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"I will take Dom Hyam to Southampton. It's a little crazy because he only trained more than today. I will bring him but he won't play more than five minutes.

"He will travel with us. Normally I wouldn't do it, normally you'd build players up but we want him in the team hotel, around the dressing room. We know Dom's influence, it's good news.

"He is not fit to play 45 minutes or even 25 minutes but maybe five or 10 minutes. He wants to help the team, I asked him if he could do that if we need it and he wants to help the club.

"Even if he's not fit, just to be around, he wants the best for the team. He trained today and we didn't do much because the boys needed to recover.

"He was immediately ready to help the team and that's Dom. The right mentality, the right attitude.

"I know I can't put him in for 20 minutes, I know that, but just to be around the dressing room is great. We know he has a great attitude."

Scott Wharton is fit and available too having come off against Bristol City due to fatigue. Sam Gallagher and Aynsley Pears should return at the end of the month whilst Tyrhys Dolan, Joe Rankin-Costello and Ryan Hedges are long-term absentees.