Souness keen to keep Short
Blackburn boss Graeme Souness has revealed he plans to offer Craig Short a new deal at Ewood Park.
The 35-year-old has helped shore up Blackburn's defence after returning to action recently from a knee injury, and Souness is keen to extend the veteran's contract as he sees him as the 'perfect professional'.
"We will be talking to Craig about a new deal in the New Year because Craig Short is the perfect professional," said Souness.
"In three-and-a-half years I've never had to say anything to Craig about how he trains, about his attitude or about how he approaches a game.
"He is a throwback. All the players love and respect him. I regard myself as having some very good professionals but he would be The Professional.
"We have missed him. When the ball arrives into our penalty area, you have a confidence when standing on the touch-line when Craig is playing.
"You know that nine times out of 10 he is going to be in there, heading the ball out or getting in a challenge of some sort. I just wish he was 25 instead of 35."
Meanwhile, Short admitted Souness had to calm him down at half time after a fierce battle with Birmingham's Christophe Dugarry during Saturday's win at St Andrews.
Dugarry was sent off for elbowing Short in the second half after the pair became involved in a running battle throughout the game.
"I went to meet Dugarry and the next thing I know is that I've got an elbow in my nose and it's broken," said Short.
"Dugarry might say it was an accident, that he was trying to shield the ball - but that wasn't my interpretation. He is a fantastic player and he resorts to that.
"I've been guilty of raising my elbow and I've suffered punishments. I missed a cup final because of it a couple of years ago. I got a five-match ban.
"When I got sent off for doing it against Steve Marlet a couple of years ago, that wasn't deliberate and I received the ban. Whether this was deliberate or not, it is still an elbow.
"I play the game quite hard and physical but I've never gone out to injure a player deliberately. I was angry at half-time. I don't want to get smashed in the nose.
"The manager had a word with me and said if I got sent off, I would miss three games, that I would be letting the lads down. That was what I had to think of."
