ROY Hodgson will be thrown in at the deep end when he takes charge of Blackburn Rovers this summer - with a debut game for the new boss against top Swedish outfit IFK Gothenburg.

Champions in their own country a record 17 times and regular competitiors in the European Cup, IFK will provide the first pre-season opposition for Rovers, who have arranged a tour to Sweden in July.

Rovers are set to play IFK on July 12, take part in a mini-tournament involving two other clubs on July 15 and then face Danish side FC Copenhagen on July 20.

The mini-tournament against two clubs yet to be named is expected to be on similar lines to the one Rovers played in Holland last summer, when they played Vitesse Arnhem and Seville in two matches, each of 45 minutes duration.

When they return to England on July 21, Rovers expect to play two or three more friendly matches, probably against First Division opposition, before the new Premiership campaign gets under way on August 9.

Those plans have yet to be finalised but the Swedish trip has been set up by Hodgson who had two highly successful spells there as a coach, winning championships at both Halmstad and Malmo.

"It looks a tough start against a side of Gothenburg's quality, especially when we have only just restarted training. But I'm sure Roy knows what he wants from the pre-season games," said Tony Parkes today. "The one thing you have to be careful about is injuries, that's always the biggest worry."

Concern that teenage striker James Thomas, who had to be substituted during last night's Lancashire FA Youth Cup final at Old Trafford, might be badly hurt was dispelled today.

Thomas, who gave Rovers an early lead against Manchester United, picked up a knee injury.

But physio Steve Foster confirmed today that the joint had only been jarred and there was no serious damage.

Another member of the team, winger Damien Duff, has dropped out of this weekend's trip to Switzerland where Rovers are competing in an international youth tournament.

The youngster, who made his Premiership debut against Leicester at the weekend, has been called up by the Republic of Ireland under-18s.

They have a game against Norway in their bid to qualify for the finals and the Irish coach travelled to Ewood this week to persuade Rovers to release Duff.

As well as the tournament in Switzerland, Rovers are also sending a squad to Ireland to play in another competition.

Goalkeeper Alan Kelly looks certain to have to pull out of the Republic of Ireland's Group Eight qualifier against Liechtenstein in Dublin next Wednesday.

And that should open the door for Shay Given to return to the side.

Given was dropped by Irish boss Mick McCarthy because he wasn't playing regular first team football, hence his wish to leave Ewood this summer.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.