BARRY Ferguson won't be returning to the Blackburn Rovers first team until next season.

The Scotland international is still struggling to recover from a broken knee cap and his long term future won't be risked in Rovers' relegation fight.

The 26-year-old midfielder, who hasn't played this calendar year after shattering his knee in the 1-0 win at Newcastle on December 28, was hoping to recover in time for the run-in.

Initially, he had tonight's reserve game at Christie Park against Wolves pencilled in to prepare him for a comeback in Saturday's crunch encounter with Leeds United at Ewood.

But Blackburn boss Graeme Souness said today: "I was hoping we would see Barry again this season but the injury is taking a little longer to heal than we thought.

"In my day that was a career-threatening injury that put people out of the game so there's no way we are going to risk him long term just to bring him back to help our situation.

"It's been softly softly with Barry since it happened so there's no way we will be throwing him in to reserve games without him being fully prepared."

Another injury worry for Rovers ahead of the Easter programme, which also includes a trip to Fulham on Monday, is Craig Short's calf.

The centre half was due to have a scan today to assess the extent of the injury that forced him out of the 4-0 defeat to Liverpool at half-time on Sunday.

Saturday's opponents Leeds are just three points behind Blackburn after their 3-2 victory over Leicester on Monday, although they are far worse off on goal difference.

Tonight's reserve game at Morecambe's Christie Park will kick-off at 7pm.