RAY Harford has tipped giant Ewood defender Ian Pearce for the top, even though he knows the 21-year-old may not play again this season.

Pearce hasn't played since being substituted during the game at Everton on November 5.

He was later found to be suffering from a chipped bone in his foot and, while he has made significant progress, the healing process is slow.

But the Blackburn Rovers boss believes the England under-21 star has a great career mapped out in front of him.

"I still think he is going to be a really top-class centre back," said the manager.

"Potentially, he's as good as anyone around. The specialist has seen him and we are very pleased with the diagnosis. "He is improving and getting better but I would very much doubt if he would play again this season."

Rovers have had to recover from one hammer blow after another on the injury front and Harford added: "When I heard about Ian, I was on the lookout for a centre half and, luckily, we managed to sign Chris Coleman.

"We already had the best English left back in the country in Graeme Le Saux and then he got a long-term injury.

"It's very difficult to replace players like those two and you have to regroup and start to plan again. But I think the lads have done remarkably well.

"They have had seven clean sheets in the last 11 Premiership games and only lost one of them. They have been exceptional."

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