ROY Hodgson is hoping to sign experienced Italian midfielder Dario Marcolin from Lazio on an extended loan for the rest of the season.

And there is a possibility, if the details of the move can be wrapped up in time - including international clearance - that he will figure in the Blackburn Rovers squad for Saturday's Premiership game at Wimbledon.

Rovers have agreed a loan fee of £100,000 with Lazio and will also have an option to buy the player at the end of the season for a further £900,000 if Marcolin impresses and he is happy to stay in England. Ewood secretary Tom Finn said that the club hoped to conclude talks with the 27-year-old player later today and then complete medicals.

"If there is any possibility of concluding the deal in time to be able to register him for Saturday, then we will try to do it," he said.

"The time it takes to obtain international clearance can sometimes be a problem.

"But we will do our best."

Marcolin, 27 yesterday, has been unable to claim a regular place in the Lazio side this season, following their record-breaking summer spending spree which included signing Ivan de la Pena from Barcelona.

But he has featured regularly in their first team squad.

Rovers boss Hodgson will know his style well from his own time in Italy, for Marcolin has been around Serie A for a number of years.

Born in Brescia, he began his career with Cremonese where he played between 1989 and 1992.

He moved to Lazio and, while with the Rome club, he has also had spells at Cagliari and Genoa.

Last season, Marcolin scored four goals for Lazio from midfield, though his record does not suggest he is a frequent marksman.

Having lost Garry Flitcroft for the next few months, following knee surgery, and with Anders Andersson having moved on loan to Denmark, Hodgson is very short of experience in midfield.

Both Tim Sherwood and Billy McKinlay played in last night's Worthington Cup tie at Crewe even though they were carrying injuries which would probably have sidelined them in normal circumstances.

They were the only senior midfielders available and so had to be pressed into service.

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