BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes has abandoned his interest in Uruguayan midfielder Gonzalo de los Santos.

The former Valencia star, who was recently linked with a switch to Arsenal, has spent the last week on trial with Rovers in the hope of securing a lucrative move to the Premiership.

But I can reveal that Hughes will not be making a swoop for the 29-year-old, who was one of Uruguay's main men at the last World Cup.

Instead, the Rovers chief will use what resources he has at his disposal to try and bring in a new striker before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month.

With Paul Dickov set to be sidelined for a month, Hughes needs cover up front as Rovers enter a crucial period in their season.

Dickov's absence means Hughes has only got two out-and-out senior strikers in Craig Bellamy and Shefki Kuqi, although David Bentley can also play as a second frontman.

Hughes is still considering recalling Paul Gallagher from his loan spell with Stoke, but, ideally, the Welshman would prefer to keep the Scotland international where he is as he's gaining vital experience in the Championship with City, for whom he has scored eight goals this season.

Preferably, Hughes would like to bring a new striker in on loan until the end of the season and he would then reassess his striking options in the summer, when he's likely to have more resources to recruit a more permanent solution.

In the meantime, the news on Dickov is better than first expected and the 33-year-old could be back in action by the end of next month.

A specialist yesterday confirmed that Dickov did dislocate his shoulder in Saturday's 1-0 win at Newcastle but he did not suffer serious ligament damage, as first feared, which means he could be back in four weeks.

With Dickov ruled out, now Hughes is hoping Bellamy will be fit to face Manchester United in the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final at Old Trafford tomorrow after the striker missed several days' training last week as a result of a tight hamstring.

The tie is delicately poised at 1-1 after the first leg, but Hughes is confident Rovers have what it takes to win at the Theatre of Dreams' for the second time this season.

"We couldn't be in better shape," said the Rovers boss.

"We are in a one-off game with the prize being a place in a cup final and we are going there on the back of an eight-game unbeaten run, so confidence is as high as it could be, and we don't have any fear or apprehension going into it.

"We have to go there, stick our chests out and have a go, which is what we are all about."

Those thoughts are also echoed by Rovers defender Michael Gray, who added: "We have to believe that if we have done it once then we can do it again.

"They have an away goal but I hope the tie can be settled over the 90 minutes.

"We know what we are up against and I think they have got a couple of players missing, just as we have.

"It's going to be tough but they are on television practically every week so we know what we are up against."

Rovers reserves are away to Sunderland tonight (kick off 7pm).