ROVERS' search for a defensive player might be about to end - but not before the middle of next week.

Graeme Souness has tabled an offer for a defender in a bid to strengthen Blackburn's threadbare backline.

Souness is down to the bare bones in defence after Martin Taylor twisted his knee to join Craig Short and John Curtis in the treatment room.

The Rovers manager would not disclose any details about his target, except that he is a left-sided player.

There was never any hope of doing a deal in time for the mystery player to face Everton but if all goes to plan he could be in line for a debut at Villa Park a week tomorrow.

"We're still trying for a left-sided defender as we have been all season," said Souness. "We have made an offer for someone and we will see if we get a result."

The mystery defender is not St Etienne's Lucien Mettomo and Souness claimed the Cameroon international was no longer on his shortlist.

Rovers were linked with Mettomo earlier this month and he is now being pursued by Kevin Keegan at Manchester City.

Rovers chief executive John Williams confirmed that the club was hoping to add a defensive player but like Souness was giving nothing away.

"The manager has admitted we have identified a target overseas and we are trying to bring him here," he said.

"But there will be nothing happening in the next two or three days and it is likely to be the middle of next week before we have any firm news."

Souness has had to make do and mend for much of the season, fiddling the resources he has had at his disposal. He has also been cautious about rushing into the transfer market as that would leave him with a number of players who could not get in the side when everyone was fit.

A large squad is essential in the Premiership but it is still important to be able to keep your players happy.

Souness said: "It's just unfortunate that all of our injury problems at the moment seem to be confined to the defence.

"I don't want to bring new people in when we are short, though, because that will only leave us overloaded when everyone is fit.

"The reason we have the squad is to act as a contingency for these type of problems and when all of the players are available, we have good numbers.

"Garry Flitcroft dropped in at the back once last season and, although I won't start a game with Flitty at centre-back, it's always an option for us."