Fulham boss Chris Coleman today hailed Liam Rosenior as one of the few highlights to emerge from the ruins of a desperately disappointing season at Craven Cottage.

Hapless Fulham fans have been given little reason to cheer with their team spending most of the Barclays Premiership campaign battling against relegation with survival only guaranteed last Saturday.

It has been a poor return after the heady days of last season when Coleman defied his lack of managerial inexperience to guide the Cottagers to ninth place, their best ever top-flight finish.

There have been few positives to lift the atmosphere in SW6 but Rosenior's form has been one of them with the 20-year-old's lively performances confirming his status as a player of rich potential.

Rosenior recently signed a new contract which ties him to Fulham until 2007 and if he continues to develop at his current rate, he will soon attract the interest of other Premiership clubs.

Coleman is delighted by the full-back's rapid development but revealed it is a result of a strong work ethic which owes its origins to his father Leroy, the current manager of Torquay United.

"Liam came to see me during pre-season after he hadn't been selected for a match and asked what he needed to do to push Moritz Volz for his place in the side, so I told him," he said.

"He went away, worked really hard in training and for the reserves and when he got his chance he took it. He's a shining example to any youngster who wants to make an impact in the game.

"There are kids out there who want to be professionals for the wrong reasons - for the trappings. Liam is doing it because he loves playing first-team football in the Premiership, in front of a crowd and with the pressure on.

"Liam's dad was a footballer so he has been well groomed. His enthusiasm and attitude make him a joy to coach. He's only 20 and will get better. He has definitely been one of the positives of the season, if not the biggest positive."

While there can be no doubt over Rosenior's commitment to the Fulham cause, question marks have been raised over the attitude of some other players with Coleman admitting team spirit is an area which needs to be addressed.

"Expectations were low last season. We all had our sleeves rolled up ready for the fight. Many say we over-achieved but what it did mean was that expectations were much higher this season and we haven't produced," he said.

"We have to get that togetherness back on the pitch with every player committed to the cause of Fulham Football Club. That may mean we have to get players in who aren't as good as some of the guys we've had, but who are ready to go to war.

"No disrespect to Charlton and okay they have had a bad end of season, but year in, year out they have players who are good enough to compete in the league and who achieve the rest through team spirit.

"I don't want anyone to think they a re doing us a favour by being here. I want players who will do the business when the pressure is on."

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes showed Chris Coleman a bit of compassion once but the Blackburn manager has ruled out any sympathy vote for the Fulham manager at Ewood Park on Saturday.

After Coleman's career had been ended by an horrific car crash, Hughes, the then Wales manager, decided to still pick him for a game to give him a last chance to say goodbye to Welsh fans.

Now the pair are rival managers for Fulham's trip to Blackburn on Saturday, with Rovers looking to do the double over the Cottagers who have only narrowly avoided relegation.

Hughes said: "After Chris' car crash he was trying to come back but everyone knew it was going to be very, very difficult for him.

"I decided to pick him for his last match - maybe I showed a bit of emotion but I just felt it would be an opportunity for him to have a last taste of what he was going to miss and I'm pleased I was able to do it.

"After that I brought him on board the coaching staff so maybe I set him on the right road too.

"He has done very well, they have found it more difficult this season but they are still in the Premiership again next season so he has done his job."

Hughes admitted he envied Coleman having the option to pick Andy Cole and wished the former England striker was still at Blackburn - with the club almost certain to end the season as the lowest scorers in the Premiership.

Cole returns to Ewood Park for the first time since his summer departure to Fulham, and the Blackburn boss hinted that his performances for Rovers had suffered from a frosty relationship with former manager Graeme Souness - and that his fitness levels had not been raised enough to perform at his peak.

Hughes added: "I played with Andy here - and I had the pleasure of playing with him - he was an outstanding footballer.

"Maybe the circumstances when he was here before didn't help Andy get to the level that he always wants to be at.

"He was used to working hard and maybe that affected his general play when he was here but you can never say that Andy's record goalscoring-wise was hindered, he got a significant amount of goals for Blackburn Rovers and important ones as well so I think people will remember that and understand the circumstances why he left.

"Yes I would have liked to have had him here. The ability that he has and the qualities that he has, he would have been a great option for us because we have struggled for goals so to have had somebody of Andy's calibre available would have helped greatly."

Hughes also called on Blackburn fans to recognise Cole's contribution to the club - including the goal that won the Worthington Cup in 2002.

He added: "I think he deserves a good reception from the fans. He's one of the top goalscorers in Premiership history. I played with him at Rovers and Manchester United, in fact he was probably bought to replace me - and I don't hold any grudges so I don't think anyone else should!"

Robbie Savage is set to return to the Blackburn side but Paul Dickov is still out with groin and knee problems.