CRAIG Hignett is back in light training after suffering a broken leg - but believes he has played his last game for Blackburn.

The 33-year-old knows it is unlikely Rovers will provide a silver lining for him once he returns to full fitness.

The striker sustained multiple fractures during a loan spell at Coventry, when he was desperate to find a route out of Ewood after falling out of favour with manager Graeme Souness.

Now he's come to terms with the fact he must wait until the summer and, despite having a year left to run on his contract, he is hopeful he will find another club and end his playing career with a bang instead of a whimper.

"My injury couldn't have happened at a worse time," Hignett said. "I had started to get fitter and had scored a couple of goals for Coventry so it was massively disappointing, especially with it happening in the transfer window because I was looking to move on.

"But I'll hopefully be moving on in the summer. I don't think I'll be involved with Blackburn when I'm fit. I've made my feelings clear to the manager and he's made his feelings clear to me, so we'll have to wait and see what happens.

"I've still got a year left on my contract so it's up to the club whether they'll let me go or not, but I think they will."

Hignett, who cost Rovers £2.25 million when he signed from Barnsley in July 2000, added that he was even prepared to drop a division for the sake of getting regular first team action.

And he hopes he will reap the benefits of being ahead of schedule on his comeback trail.

"I just want to go and play football," he said. "I'm no spring chicken but I feel I've got three or four years left in me and I don't want to finish as a bit-part player."

A move to Highfield Road could still be an option as Hignett is still in touch with Coventry boss Gary McAllister, and even helped set up Matt Jansen's loan move this week.

"I had a chat with Matt about it and spoke to Gary McAllister as well," he said. "It's a great club for him to go to and get games under his belt."

Jansen is expected to make his debut against Bradford next week.