JORDAN Rhodes and Grant Hanley are expected to be ready for Rovers’ Championship trip to Derby County after both were forced to withdraw from the Scotland squad through injury this week.

The injury scare to Blackburn Rovers’ young duo sparked fitness fears but, after being assessed, the pair are in line to be fit for their next Championship outing.

Rhodes did meet up with the Scotland squad earlier this week ahead of Friday’s clash with Wales despite picking up an injury knockduring Saturday’s defeat to Wolves.

He was sent home after being assessed by the Scottish medical team but Rovers are now hopeful their £8million man will have shaken the injury off in time for the trip to Pride Park a week on Saturday.

The former Huddersfield man has looked increasingly jaded over the past couple of weeks, having been asked to play as a lone striker for the majority, with the club pleased to rest him.

Centre-back Hanley was also forced to withdraw earlier this week after suffering a groin injury during Rovers’ disappointing Ewood defeat at the weekend.

His fitness is less certain and he will undergo treatment at Brockhall as the club bid to get him ready for their next Championship action, but it is hoped he will be ready to resume training by the middle of next week.

Meanwhile, it remains uncertain whether a new manager will have been appointed in time for Rovers’ trip to Derby with global advisor Shebby Singh expected to draw up a shortlist of candidates this afternoon.

Singh and managing director Derek Shaw have received a host of applicants for the vacant managerial post after Steve Kean’s shock resignation almost two weeks ago.

A string of top names including Bernd Schuster, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Javier Clemente are already understood to have expressed an interest.

The final decision will be made by Venky’s, who are currently out of the country, but they will be briefed and advised by Singh and Shaw.

Republic of Ireland boss Trapattoni yesterday distanced himself from claims that he could be interested in the vacant post at Blackburn.

The 73-year-old said: “I’m not aware of it. It must be agent chit-chat. I’m not interested anyway.”