Bentley set for Blackburn debut

David Bentley is in line to make his debut for Blackburn at Bolton tomorrow after impressing Mark Hughes in training.

The England Under-21 international has joined on a season-long loan from Arsenal having spent last year at Norwich under a similar arrangement.

Bentley’s most likely position is wide on the right of midfield and even if he does not make the starting line-up at the Reebok he should play some part.

“I have been excited by what I have seen of David,” said Hughes. “He’s technically gifted with great, quick feet.

“It’s not until you get to see a player on the training field that you can see what type of player he is and what he can bring to the squad.”

Blackburn’s new defender Zurab Khizanishvili, the Georgia international who has joined on loan from Rangers, may also get his chance at Bolton as Andy Todd is beginning a three-match ban for head-butting Tottenham’s Andy Reid.

Khizanishvili, who has played in Scotland for four years, says just being in the Premier League has fulfilled a lifelong ambition.

He said: “I’m happy to be at Blackburn and I’m a little bit nervous with a new team but I’m looking forward to everything and will give it my best.

“It looks like a friendly team and everyone has been great to me – it does not feel like I have just arrived at my first training session.

“The first problem was on my shirt they had to put my second name – everyone calls me Zura which would have been much easier.

“But I am very excited about playing in England. I enjoyed playing in Scotland but to be honest my dream was always to play in the Premier League.”

Craig Bellamy and Paul Dickov could both return to the squad for the short trip to Bolton as both close to recovery from similar muscle tears although Dickov has more of a chance of making the starting line-up.

Bellamy will be keen to get fit ahead of the match against his old club Newcastle the following weekend but Bolton’s physical approach means Hughes is more likely to play the combative Dickov alongside Shefki Kuqi.

Hughes added: “Bolton play a certain way and you know they will ask questions of you defensively. They like to get the ball into the box as often as possible and put you under pressure and are particularly dangerous from set-pieces.

“They get the ball in the right areas and you have to withstand all of that. I am sure we can and there will be times when the tempo just drops a little bit and you can perhaps get a foothold in the game and maybe cause them problems at the other end.

“We have a decent recent record there – a great win last season and three draws before that.”

Meanwhile, Blackburn’s 18-year-old left-winger Sergio Peter has signed a new three-year deal. The German-born midfielder was included in Mark Hughes’ senior squad for the pre-season friendlies.