BLACKBURN Rovers received a major boost to their survival fight with the news that David Dunn is free to resume training.

The England Under 21 midfielder limped out of Monday's 2-0 victory over Southampton with what looked to be a serious knee injury after he appeared to stretch ligaments when stretching for the ball.

But chief executive John Williams said that Dunn should be fit for the club's remaining six games.

"David has had it checked out and there is nothing stretched," said Williams. "He is OK and can resume training," said Williams.

Meanwhile, Williams was full of praise for Rovers bumper 28,000 crowd at the Southampton match, many of whom had taken advantage of the discounted £10 tickets.

"The crowd was superb," said Williams. "They really got behind the team and the coaching team and players remarked after the match how much it had helped them with the crowd behind them.

"It was just the sort of backing we will need to see us through to safety come the end of the season."

Rovers will have Andy Cole back from suspension for their next game, the visit of Chelsea on April 10, and Jansen believes his strike partner could be the key to securing safety.

Matt Jansen is himself delaying surgery on a hernia until the season is over in order to help Rovers' attempts to stave off relegation.

The striker has pain-killing injections before games, and will go under the knife as soon as Rovers are safe.

But he is relishing the return of his strike partner.

He said: "Andy's shown what a quality player he is and it can only help us to have him back."

Meanwhile, Rovers watched Nigerian striker Ayegbini Yakobou and Israeli centre-back Shimon Gershon over the Easter period.

Rovers chief scout Terry Darracott flew out to Israel to watch the pair and was an interested spectator as 19-year-old international Yakobou - also a target for Derby County - hit two goals in Maccabi Haifa's 5-1 win over Ashdod SC to extend their lead at the top of Israel's Premier League on Saturday evening.

Two days later he watched 24-year-old Gershon hit the target to earn Hapoel Tel Aviv a 1-1 draw with city rivals Maccabi.

Darracott was accompanied at the derby clash by Gershon's agent Pini Zehavi, who dealt with Graeme Souness when he signed Eyal Berkovic on loan from Celtic in the latter stages of last season.

BLACKBURN: Rovers watched Nigerian striker Ayegbini Yakobou and Israeli centre-back Shimon Gershon over the Easter period.