Jansen to take step back

Matt Jansen may be forced to step back into the shadows when holders Blackburn travel to Old Trafford for tonight’s Worthington Cup semi-final – but manager Graeme Souness has nothing but praise for the former England Under-21 star.

The 25-year-old returned to the Rovers’ scoresheet on Saturday for the first time since the career-threatening scooter accident during the summer which left him with serious head injuries.

Souness has been content to allow Jansen to ease his way back to full fitness but despite Jansen’s double strike against Aston Villa at the weekend, Souness has already told the former Crystal Palace front-man that he will have to stand down to allow Andy Cole to partner Dwight Yorke against their former club this evening.

“Matt has been to hell and back,” admitted Souness.

“I’m sure he has been through the full range of emotions and endured many sleepless nights and anxiety attacks wondering if he would ever be the same again.

“Some people were passing judgement on his performances for the reserve team but that was a bit unfair. When I was a player, I couldn’t motivate myself for reserve team football.

“We will continue to nurse him but if anything happens to Dwight or Andy, he will be thrown straight back in.”

Souness admitted he had agonised over the decision to give Cole a break. The former England striker is enjoying his best run of form since completing his move to Rovers last season and will be eager to prove a point to Sir Alex Ferguson.

“Andy has been on fire so there was a decision to be made about whether we rested him or kept him playing,” said Souness.

“We have had a very demanding Christmas period, so we will see tonight if there has been a benefit.”

Midfield duo David Thompson and Tugay are set to return, although, with Craig Short already ruled out, Souness could be presented with a defensive problem should Martin Taylor fail to recover from a back strain.

Even though his side recently turned United over in the Premiership at Ewood Park, when Garry Flitcroft grabbed the first-half winner, Souness insisted he is not approaching the tie with confidence, claiming he would be happy with any result which kept the tie alive for the second leg in a fortnight’s time.

“No-one who goes to Old Trafford can say they are confident,” he said.

“They have battered Sunderland and Portsmouth in their last two games and we will be on the back foot for most of the game. They are capable of putting five past any side in the Premiership – we just have to hope they don’t do it to us.”

Rovers appear to have already sealed their top flight future by taking 32 points from their opening 22 games and, having achieved the first objective, are now hoping to seal a second Millennium Stadium visit after their shock victory over Tottenham in last year’s final.

“A number of my players have experienced a cup final once and know what a great feeling it is,” said Souness.

“Now we have to play a side who have experienced that same feeling many times.

“There is no secret to the way Manchester United play,” he added. “They will come after us.

“What we have to do is make sure they don’t sink their teeth into our neck for any period of time.

“It could be an exciting evening because it isn’t my style to play one up front and try to get a goalless draw.

“I don’t have the players do it anyway. We will be trying to give them a game."