Hughes reluctantly sold the defender to West Ham in January after the player, initially linked with Liverpool, made clear his desire to move elsewhere.

Neill cited ambition as a key factor in his decision to leave, but with a huge pay rise reportedly on the table, the move angered Rovers fans.

He received a hostile reception when returned to Blackburn for West Ham's 2-1 win in March and a similar reaction is likely tomorrow.

Hughes used the £1.5million gleaned from Neill's sale to sign Stephen Warnock from Liverpool, while Christopher Samba also arrived on a free transfer.

Hughes said: "It was a difficult time for ourselves and Lucas. He still had to keep putting in performances and I kept on playing him because I always felt there was possibly an opportunity he may change his mind.

"In the end, that didn't happen. The timing of allowing Lucas to leave was crucial and I had to make sure the club was still strong - and stronger - without Lucas than with him.

"I think time will tell I made the right acquisitions at the right time and we didn't suffer."

Blackburn go into the game with confidence restored after getting back to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Newcastle last weekend.

Their promising start to the season had been undermined by a run of four games without a win, culminating in a 4-0 thrashing by Aston Villa.

Hughes now wants his team to carry their current momentum into a potentially difficult game with West Ham, who trail them by seven points in the Barclays Premier League table.

Hughes said: "They have got a great squad and they are getting a few back, injury-wise.

"If you look at the players they have got, if they are all fit and well, they are a very strong Premier League side.

"They haven't been able to get many of those players out yet at the same time and that's affected them but slowly they seem to be getting people out of the treatment room and that makes them stronger.

"They have a decent record on the road this year and they will be difficult opposition.

"They are always strong, they are always a side with pace that you have to deal with or you have a bad result like we did in the game last year."

West Ham controversially won 2-1 at Ewood Park in March after a contentious penalty award and a Bobby Zamora goal replays showed did not cross the line.

Blackburn are without midfielder David Bentley, the two-goal hero against Newcastle, and defender Ryan Nelsen through suspension.