BRAVE defender Stig Bjornebye could be back in full-time training next week as he steps up his remarkable comeback from the eye injury which threatened to end his career.

The former Norwegian international hasn't kicked a ball competitively since he shattered his eye socket in a freak training accident six months ago.

But, after two operations and months of careful rehabilitation under the guidance of Rovers' medical team, the 32-year-old full-back is now close to winning the biggest battle of his life.

And he is relishing the opportunity to show the doubters that he can still cut it at the very highest level after targeting November for a possible playing return.

"No-one can really tell me exactly when I'm going to be ready to play again," said Bjornebye.

"The rough estimate was I'd be ready around Christmas but I'm well ahead of that schedule now.

"The fitness work is going very, very well and the injury hasn't really stopped me from doing anything.

"I'm currently doing cardio-vascular and strengthening work in the gym so I've really got fit over the last few months.

"And now the injury seems to have healed so, hopefully, I can resume full training again next week because I can't wait to join in again. It's felt like such a long time since I last played a game."

Bjornebye has been quick to praise the role the club have played in helping him through the darkest days of his professional career.

And he has singled out the medical staff at Brockhall, in particular, for getting him back in contention well ahead of schedule.

"The club have been fantastic with me and I want to place that on record," said Bjornebye.

"The board, the chief executive, the manager and the lads have all been very supportive.

"And the medical staff have been absolutely brilliant, too, in terms of my rehabilitation.

"So I can't thank Doctor Batty, Dave Fevre and Paul Kelly enough because they've all been fantastic.

"One of the main things which has driven me on is the gratitude I feel towards the people who have been backing me up on this.

"I want to do the job that the club expect me to do and the most frustrating thing is I can't do that job right now.

"I'm sick of the treatment room now, not the people in.

"I just want to go out there and join the others which, hopefully, I can do as from next week."