HUGHES HOPEFUL IN STRIKER HUNT

Mark Hughes is hoping to add another striker to his Blackburn squad before the start of the Premier League season but insists he is more than happy with the group of players currently at his disposal.

Rovers start their European campaign with an Intertoto Cup third-round, first-leg clash with Vilnius Vetra in Lithuania on Sunday.

Hughes, who was tight-lipped on speculation linking Bayern Munich's Roque Santa Cruz with a move to Ewood Park, has been quiet in the transfer market so far this summer, signing Dutch forward Maceo Rigters and Faroe Islands Under-21 goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen.

Despite Francis Jeffers' move to Ipswich falling through, Hughes is still on the look-out for a frontman to compete with Benni McCarthy, Jason Roberts and Matt Derbyshire.

Hughes said: "We're looking at players and I'd like to bring another striker in to complement the players I already have.

"Obviously strikers more often than not will win you games and I'd be more comfortable with another experienced striker in the building to go along with the ones I've already got.

"Most managers do have a shortlist at this time of year. How realistic they are is open to debate.

"But we're in the mix and we're making enquiries, we're still hopeful and there's plenty of time left in the window.

"As we stand, even if I didn't do any more business, I'd still be quite comfortable but we would like to bring another striker in."

Santa Cruz has made his desire to move to England clear but Hughes was not giving anything away if the 25-year-old Paraguay forward is a potential target.

He continued: "We've been linked with a number of strikers. Some of those have been bought and those that are left we will be linked to."

Aside from midfielder Steven Reid, who is close to returning to full training following six months out with a knee injury, full-back Stephen Warnock is Hughes' only selection concern ahead of Sunday's game.

The 25-year-old former Liverpool man is doubtful with a hamstring problem sustained in Rovers' short trip to Germany last week.

With the new season so close, Hughes will certainly not be taking any chances on Warnock.

"He's been with the physio but we're hopeful that he's going to come through," Hughes said.

"It's just a little bit of tightness in his hamstring, it's not too severe but we won't risk him if there's the opportunity to do more damage.

"Stephen is very close to joining the main group again. He had a minor setback with a slight calf strain last week which is to be expected given the amount of time he's been out and he will get these niggles.

"He's very close to being given the all-clear and we're delighted for him."

Taken from =football365=