Djorkaeff in at deep end

Blackburn’s new signing Youri Djorkaeff was thrown straight into the fray by manager Mark Hughes, the French forward replacing Jon Stead in the starting line-up against Aston Villa.

With Rovers having managed just five goals in seven league games Hughes need to shake the side up and he also brought in Tugay in place of Garry Flitcroft in central midfield.

Villa began unbeaten in their last five outings but have also struggled to score and Carlton Cole was restored to the side with Darius Vassell relegated to the bench.

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Amoruso, Matteo, Gray, Emerton, Ferguson, Tugay, Jansen, Djorkaeff, Dickov. Subs: Flitcroft, Stead, Enckelman, Johansson, Bothroyd.

Aston Villa: Sorensen, De la Cruz, Mellberg, Delaney, Samuel, Solano, McCann, Hendrie, Barry, Angel, Cole. Subs: Vassell, Hitzlsperger, Postma, Whittingham, Davis.

Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire)