BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has been dealt another injury blow after being told that Steven Reid could be out of action for another month.

Reid was expected to make his comeback from a hamstring problem in last Saturday's game against Manchester City.

But the Republic of Ireland international broke down in training on Thursday after pushing himself too hard.

And now the medical staff reckon it could be another four weeks before the former Millwall star is ready to return again.

"Steven was doing well with his rehabilitation but then he broke down in training on Thursday and it looks like he could be out for anything up to a month, which is another blow to us," said Souness.

Reid has been desperately unlucky with injuries so far this season and that has seriously affected his chances of nailing down a regular starting place at Rovers.

With fellow midfielders David Thompson and Barry Ferguson also sidelined for the foreseeable future, Reid's versatility would have come in handy over the festive period.

But the fact is the 22-year-old has not figured in a first team game since Rovers lost 1-0 to Arsenal on December 14.

And now the fear is he will miss the games against Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Newcastle after scans revealed he has torn some fibres in his hamstring.

Meanwhile, Paul Gallagher should be fit to return against Chelsea after missing the 1-1 draw at Manchester City with a back injury.

And Lorenzo Amoruso is also close to a first team return, although the Chelsea game might come a week too soon for him.

In the meantime, Fulham completed the signing of former Blackburn target Brian McBride yesterday and manager Chris Coleman was quick to predict that the American will be a real handful in the Barclaycard Premiership as the Cottagers look towards life without Louis Saha.

McBride has scored 20 times in an international career spanning 67 caps and boasts Premiership experience following a two-month loan spell at Everton last season.

The 31-year-old Columbus Crew forward will join the club for an undisclosed fee until the summer of 2006, pending approval for a work permit and a successful medical.

And Coleman declared: "Brian is a great talent who can combine assisting attacking play with getting his fair share of goals.

"He has superb aerial ability and has already proved he can perform each week at the highest level. His experience of the Premiership will also prove a valuable asset in the coming months."

The Illinois-born forward has represented his country in two World Cups, helping the United States reach the quarter-finals in 2002, and was nominated for the Major League Soccer player of the year award last year.

McBride is not the first American international to have been signed by Coleman in the January transfer window, following Carlos Bocanegra's arrival from Chicago Fire early last week.

Rovers' reserves are in action against Newcastle tonight at Christie Park, Morecambe (kick-off 7pm).

Rovers' squad is: Yelldell, Peers, Morgan, Danns, Michael Taylor, Fitzgerald, Watt, Donnelly, Johnson, Jansen, Mahon, Bruce, Drench, Harkins, Byrom, Barker.