Blackburn Rovers have played down talk of a possible move for Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie.

With Steven Reid and Robbie Savage both on the long-term injury list, manager Mark Hughes considered bringing in some extra midfield cover and Hendrie's name was one of several being banded around.

However, with David Dunn close to a first team return, Hughes appears satisfied he has enough midfield options already at the club to cover for Reid and Savage's absence.

"We looked at that in the immediate aftermath of the incident at Watford (where Savage got injured), but our feeling is David Dunn has been brought to the club and he isn't far away," said the Rovers boss.

"So, at the moment, we'll go with what we've got I think."

Hughes has been one of the busier managers in the transfer window, snapping up three players so far in Dunn, Stephen Warnock and Chris Samba - the latter joining the club on Thursday night in a £450,000 deal from Hertha Berlin.

Samba may be something of an unknown quantity in English football, but Hughes believes the 6ft 5in central defender could prove to be a shrewd addition given time.

He added: "We brought him in because we had the opportunity to have a look at him, and we thought if we don't sign him then somebody else is going to get a very good player, so I think it's good business.

"He's a big guy and, more often than not, guys of that size don't always punch their weight because they're so big, they've never actually had to learn the technique of heading a ball.

"But he has good technique in the air, he's quick, he's a good passer, and we like the look of him, so it was an easy decision."