Mark Hughes will make reference to one of Manchester United’s finest European fightbacks when he delivers his dressing-room speech this evening as Blackburn Rovers battle to stay in the Uefa Cup. Trailing Larissa 2-0 from the first leg in Greece two weeks ago, Blackburn must replicate that result or score at least three goals if they are to qualify for the group stage.

It is a position Hughes was in as a player in 1984, when he was 20. He was part of Ron Atkinson’s United team who created a stir by overturning a two-goal, first-leg deficit in the Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-finals against a Barcelona side containing Diego Maradona.

Hughes hopes that his players can draw inspiration from his experience after admitting that an early exit from Europe would be a serious setback to his Ewood Park revolution. “European football is key to this club developing as a team and a squad,” the Blackburn manager said. “We want to be involved in more games if we can and I don’t think it is beyond us.

“I may well mention my experiences with Manchester United to the players to show them it can be done. I have seen it time and time again in Europe. In the first leg against Barcelona, we actually did quite well on the night, even though we lost 2-0. I had what I still think was a good goal knocked off for offside.

“I was a young player making my full debut in European football and really enjoyed it, but, at the end of the day, we got beaten. Nobody expected us to win in the return. We were up against Maradona and a number of world-class players. But we went in there with a positive attitude.

“In Europe, things can happen and conspire against you, but it can go the other way and you can feel it is going to be your night. You get a special feeling and players buy into it. Hopefully, that will be the case against Larissa. If we can get into the ascendancy, get a goal, who knows where that can get us?”

Hughes is convinced that the fans at Ewood Park will have a big influence on the outcome. The club have slashed admission prices for the match, which is not being televised live, in an attempt to attract a big crowd.

“Against Barcelona at Old Trafford, the crowd was unbelievable and I’m convinced that had a big factor in what happened,” Hughes said. “We want that to be created at Ewood.”

Benni McCarthy, a Champions League winner with FC Porto, is in the squad after being left out of the team who won 2-1 away to Sunderland on Saturday. Hughes questioned the South Africa striker’s fitness but has been impressed with his response.

“We had a talk last week, but since then he has worked extremely hard,” Hughes said. “He has a great attitude to what we have asked him to do and he will be part of the squad.”

Blackburn Rovers (probable; 4-4-2) B Friedel – B Emerton, C Samba, A Ooijer, S Warnock – D Bentley, R Savage, D Dunn, M G Pedersen – B McCarthy, R Santa Cruz.

Larissa (probable; 4-3-2-1) S Kotsolis – I Kyriakidis, N Dabizas, M Foerster, G Galitsios – P Katsiaros, M Sarmiento, G Fotakis – N Alexandrou, Cleyton – I Bakayoko.

Referee: C Circhetta (Switzerland).