BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness could face competition for the signature of Markus Babbel if he decides to sign the defender on a permanent basis in the summer.

Babbel is currently at Rovers on a season-long loan from Liverpool but the former Bayern Munich star has been linked with a possible return to Germany at the end of the season.

And Souness can understand why Rovers may not be the only club vying for his services.

"I would imagine there would be interest in Markus and Gerard Houllier has also commented that he shouldn't have let him go because Liverpool have had a run of bad injuries," said Souness.

"But I'm happy with Markus. We've asked him to do a couple of jobs at full-back and centre-back and I'm happy with how he's played."

Souness is likely to make a decision on the player's future nearer the end of the season.

Babbel has done well since he arrived from Liverpool and the 31-year-old has enjoyed his stint at Ewood so far.

However, the versatile defender says it's too early to start talking about what's going to happen next season.

"I don't know what's going to happen. At the moment I'm just enjoying my football here," said Babbel

"It's so much fun to play here. The lads are great but I'm not thinking about what's going to happen next season.

"I'm just trying to enjoy the moment. I was out for a long time and I'm just taking things day to day.

"So we will see."

Meanwhile, Rovers midfielder Steven Reid could be ruled out of Rovers' Christmas programme through injury.

The Republic of Ireland international has picked up a hamstring injury in training and looks certain to miss Rovers' games with Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Newcastle.

"With so many matches in quick succession it looks almost certain that I'm out for at least four matches which is pretty upsetting," said Reid.

"I just went in for a run-of-the-mill tackle, but immediately I felt something in my hamstring go.

"I don't know the true extent of the damage yet."

In the meantime, Birmingham striker Christophe Dugarry is still sweating on a possible FA charge following his alleged elbow on Craig Short.

FA officials, who are studying footage of the incident when Dugarry appeared to catch Short in the face, had to abandon their deliberations because the quality of the video tape which had been submitted to them was so poor.

The incident left Short with a broken nose and the French international is facing a charge of violent conduct, which could lead to a three-match ban if he is found guilty.

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce said: "We will vigorously defend any charge that may be brought against Christophe.

"He was fending off Short and caught him in the face, but it was not a deliberate action."