Gresko to join Rovers

Blackburn boss Graeme Souness hopes to complete the loan signing of Vratislav Gresko in time for Saturday’s Barclaycard Premiership encounter with Aston Villa.

The Slovakian defender is due to travel to Lancashire from Italy tomorrow for a medical which should see him join Rovers from Parma until the end of the season.

Souness’ defensive options are set to be reduced by forthcoming suspensions to Andy Todd and Lucas Neill – and with Craig Short set to miss tomorrow’s clash with basement dwellers West Ham after picking up a calf strain against Sunderland on Saturday, Gresko’s arrival could not be timed any better.

“He is coming over tomorrow to have a medical, and we hope we will get things done in time for the weekend,” said Souness.

“I would consider him for selection against Villa. He can play either centre-half or full-back and will give me the options I have been looking for.”

Meanwhile, England international David Dunn will miss the Upton Park trip after a recurrence of his long-standing hamstring injury.

Dunn aggravated the problem against Sunderland at the weekend and joins Damien Duff (hamstring) and Short on the sidelines.

Full-back John Curtis has been drafted into the squad and could start against a side who snatched a 2-2 draw earlier in the season at Ewood Park.

Provisional squad: Friedel, Robinson, Curtis, Neill, Johansson, Douglas, McEveley, Taylor, Todd, Gillespie, Ostenstad, Jansen, Flitcroft, Thompson, Tugay, Yorke, Cole.