TONIGHT sees the renowned Wrexham FC tribute band that is Blackburn Rovers arrive for a sort of homecoming at The Racecourse. Ruabon boy Mark Hughes has not been shy of importing players with connections to North Wales, and in the process has established his side as many people's second team in this particular corner of the world, so it's appropriate they should arrive for a friendly.

The list of links extends beyond Hughes himself to first team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki, a fine keeper whose spell at The Racecourse in the seventies and eighties included the finest era in the club's history.

Furthermore, Robbie Savage is a local lad although his connections with the club earlier in his career include some typically robust contributions in derby games for Crewe and a moment of pantomime villainy when he removed his boot during Kevin Russell's testimonial after the bald midfielder had beaten him and threw it at his back, to the fury of The Kop!

Another link, of course, is Matt Derbyshire, who made such a huge impression when on loan in 2005-06. His career took a big leap forward last season as he made an impact in the Premiership and spent the summer playing for the England at the European Under-21s Championships.

Derbyshire's goal grabbing and enthusiasm were enough to endear him to the fans, but the fact that in a magazine poll after his departure he said the two sides he particularly disliked are Burnley and Chester City ensured that he would be taken to Wrexham fans' hearts!

Who Derbyshire has to compete with for a place up front will be interesting. Two African strikers' futures are in doubt, but an opponent in England's inevitable semi-final penalty shoot-out in Holland last month has arrived and should be a fine acquisition.

The first possible departure is Benni McCarthy, but Hughes is bound to battle hard to keep him. The South African had been linked with a move to The Premiership for years, with Middlesbrough in particular regularly reported to be after him, before Blackburn finally brought him over last summer. He was certainly worth the wait, scoring 24 goals at better than a goal every other game, and ending up second only to Didier Drogba in the Premiership scoring chart.

Inevitably his performance led to transfer speculation though, and the South African striker has hardly helped the situation, repeatedly saying he would like to play for a Champions League side!

Speaking to the BBC in June, McCarthy said: "If the opportunity does come to go and play for a team where you can move up a level and play Champions League football that will always be my dream.

"If that opportunity occurs to go and play for a team like that, then I would love for my management to look at the possibility and look in their heart to make it possible to make a move like that."

There has been speculation that Chelsea might be his destination in the near future, with Jose Mourinho, his boss at Porto, a keen admirer, and the gossip intensified when it was claimed that he had not turned up for the first day of pre-season training last week.

Rovers where quick to quell the rumour, a statement on their website announcing, "We wish to make it absolutely clear Benni was not absent from training and turned up as scheduled."

Another possible departure is Congan Shabani Nonda, who made a sporadic impact last season with his aggressive forward play, hitting seven goals in 29 Premier League appearances. He was on loan for a year from Roma and Rovers have been given an option to buy him permanently, apparently for a fee of £1.4 million.

However John Dario, Nonda's agent has told BBC Sport that things are not so simple: "I cannot ensure Nonda will play for Blackburn next season - it is open but Rovers have priority. He played for them but it depends if they want him. Another club in England has made contact.

"In England the market is very slow but I think soon we will know where he will be playing next season. I am not waiting for Blackburn but if they call me we will try to find a solution because the player wants to stay in England."

If they don't make the deal, it seems Newcastle are waiting in the wings to sign the striker, who is currently working hard to be ready for whichever team he ends up with.

"At the moment he is in Monaco training twice a day with a condition trainer to make sure that he is fit and ready for the new season. He is paying for it himself." said Dario.

"Nonda said to me that his first year in England was not that good. It was not the real Nonda in his first season - there was a new language and a new way of preparing for the game.

"For example in Italy or France you go to a hotel two or three days before the game but in England you sometimes head to the ground as little as three hours before the match."

The new striker hoping to adapt successfully to the Premiership is NAC Breda striker Maceo Rigters, who has signed a four-year deal at Ewood Park.

The exciting forward play of Rigters, Ryan Babel and Royston Drenthe was what won the Under-21 European Championships for Holland, with Rigters winning the golden boot, and Celtic, Rangers, Newcastle and (ahem!) Norwich City were all said to be keen on his signature.

Rigters was able to resist the lure of Championship football and all the mustard he could eat and was reported to be on his way to Celtic to sign on, but a volute face saw him head for Lancashire instead, a satisfied Blackburn chairman John Williams telling BBC Sport: "We've been following him for some time after manager Mark Hughes identified him as a player he was interested in."

"It is like a dream for me to play at the club," said Rigters exclusively told Rovers' official website.

"It is a big club and the competition will be good for me to see if I can make it. I know quite a lot about the club they have good players here such Benni McCarthy, Aaron Mokoena and, of course, Andre Ooijer, there are a lot of good players here."

"I had a great feeling about the club, I was here with my Dad and my agent and we made the decision to stay here as there was a good feeling

"It is a great chance for me, it is a dream for every boy in Holland to play in the Premier League, I have the chance and I'm very happy with that.

"I think we can go higher in the league than last year, and I'm sure we'll do well in the Intertoto Cup and the UEFA Cup."

Another key signing was the signature of club skipper and New Zealand centre back Ryan Nelsen on a new five-year contract. The 29-year-old signed on a free in January 2005 and has proven to be an outstanding signing.

"I'm delighted for the club and Ryan," said Hughes told BBC Sport. "He's my captain and will be very influential in helping to shape the progress of the club."

"Ryan is a top man on and off the field, the positive impact of this deal cannot be underestimated," concurred club chairman John Williams.

However, fellow defender Andy Todd is not likely to be around for long, having been allowed to leave following talks with manager Mark Hughes.

Todd's agent Peter Harrison told BBC Sport: "Andy has spoken with Mark Hughes and, if the deal suits everyone concerned, he will be on his way out.

"He won't go for free as there is a year left on his contract but a couple of clubs are already interested. We'll see what happens over the next few days but I would definitely expect developments within two weeks.

"Hopefully Andy will be staying in the Premier League, that would be ideal, but there are some good clubs in the Championship too. Rangers and a couple of Premier League clubs were keen on Andy in January but Mark Hughes wanted to keep him to help the push for Europe.

"Right now, Andy is at the stage where he needs to be playing regular first-team football and hopefully we can sort that out. West Brom have shown an interest and there have been talks held but that's as far as it's gone.

"He's keen to leave. We are in discussion with a number of clubs, with Albion and Derby among those keen."

Todd might well miss out on an interesting campaign at Blackburn. They have already shown under Hughes that they can beat anyone on their day and string together cup runs: now he must hope to build on tenth place last season and keep his Wrexham tribute band rolling.

Rovers had been hoping that Sunday's first leg Intertoto Cup meeting between Vetra and Legia Warsaw might have given them an indication of their likely third round opponents, but with the Lithuanians surprisingly leading 2-0 at the interval a riot ensued.

Hundreds of the near 3,000 travelling Polish fans invaded the pitch and caused the match to be abandoned - now UEFA must decide on the outcome at a meeting to be held tomorrow!

Mark Griffiths