DAVID Batty has NOT been named in Blackburn Rovers' squad as they bid to extend their magnificent Ewood Premiership record against Bolton Wanderers tomorrow.

Manager Ray Harford revealed today that Tim Sherwood, who has had a niggling back problem, and several other players with minor injuries, were all expected to be fit.

And it's no surprise that he named the same squad which defeated Sheffield Wednesday a fortnight ago.

On Batty, the manager said: "He is available for selection.

"You look at players in training all through the week and make your judgements on who should be in the squad. You look at fitness, attitude, application, training - everything.

"I do not feel David should be in the squad for this game.

"You make a selection for each game at a time. Next week I will have different problems."

Harford refused to be drawn on the subject of Newcastle's interest in Batty but on the troubled two weeks he added: "At no time has David Batty been absent without leave.

"At no time has David Batty been forced to train with the kids. "And at no time have me and David Batty had a row about team selection."

One man who won't figure tomorrow is Jason Wilcox, though the winger was quick to re-assure fans that his latest injury is nothing serious, just bruising.

Rovers look set to line up: Flowers, Berg, Hendry, Coleman, Kenna, Ripley, Sherwood, Bohinen, Gallacher, Shearer, Newell.

Harford added: "I didn't realise until we played Bolton how fierce the derby rivalry was between the clubs.

"They feel they have improved in recent weeks and we are preparing for a very hard game."

The spotlight tomorrow will also be on Bolton defender Alan Stubbs, who almost signed for Rovers earlier this season when they hoped to take him and Jason McAteer.

Stubbs has since signed a new contract at Burnden and said of his involvement with Rovers: "That's all behind me now. There's no point me digging in my heels, I just decided to get on with it. "When I played that game (against Rovers at Burnden) there was a lot of speculation in the newspapers and it all seemed to come to boiling point that day. But I have no regrets and nothing to prove."

Stubbs was the matchwinner in the first game.

Bolton's squad, with the first 11 likely to start, is:Branagan, Green, Phillips, Bergsson, Fairclough, Stubbs, Curcic, Sneekes, Sellars, McGinlay, Paatelainen, Thompson, Lee, de Freitas, McAnespie.

Rovers' A team game against Liverpool at Brockhall has been called off.

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