LEE Carsley hopes to take a major step back towards a Blackburn Rovers return this weekend, when he sees a specialist about his damaged foot.

The midfield enforcer broke a bone in his instep against Newcastle United at the end of January but believes he will be back playing football by the middle of next month - especially if he was to get the green light from the specialist today.

"I am hoping to be given the all-clear to start jogging again on Monday," said Carsley, who has just benefited from a few days away - with special permission from the manager - as part of his rehabilitation.

"I have come back refreshed and am looking forward to starting again."

Carsley has missed Rovers' last five League games, the first through illness and the rest with the foot injury.

And they have won only one of them.

But the problems caused by his absence have now been eased by the long-awaited return of Garry Flitcroft.

Getting stronger with every game, Flitcroft underlined how he had to be mentally strong enough to believe that he was always going to come back, even though some might have wondered.

"I'm quite strong minded so all the time I've thought that I was going to get back," he said.

"There are times when you wonder if the knee is ever going to settle down but the medical staff here have been brilliant to me. "And going away and seeing the lads get a result like they did at Liverpool spurs you on.

"The lowest point was when I came back after the Huddersfield game. I knew it wasn't quite right but I had been out for about 10 months so it should have been.

"My knee was sore in training, they drew some fluid off and it had blood in it and I knew something else was wrong with it.

"I knew it was going to be another long spell out.

"It's just about disciplining yourself to keep on working in the gym and listening to the medical staff here, knowing that your knee's going to get right and you will be playing football again." Flitcroft is one of the few players who enjoys watching games and he has travelled to many of the away games to support his team-mates during a lengthy absence.

"It has been a long time and games can't come quick enough now for me to get my fitness back," he said.

"We need to build on that victory at Stockport.

"It wasn't the best game in the world but I thought we battled well and maybe we are going to have to do that in a lot more games this season to grind out results.

"We aren't many points behind and we have to play all the top teams. We can take points off them and still get in the play-offs.

"It's been hard watching but I'm back involved now and, like the rest of the lads, I don't want another season in the First Division, I want to get back in the Premier League."

Former West Brom keeper Alan Miller was set for a place on the bench against his old club today and he still has a sympathetic streak for his old team-mates who have had a torrid time this season.

"A lot has gone on behind the scenes with the chairman resigning and players being sold so it's been a little bit unstable at times," said the keeper.

"Then there was the sale of Kevin Kilbane.

"It did affect the players and it's a shame really.

"Hopefully it's sorted out now, there's a new chairman in charge and they have to steady the ship and make sure they get clear of relegation.

"But it hasn't helped the club.

"I'm enjoying it here now but I was happy in my time there and got on well with the supporters."

York City have inquired about Ewood keeper Alan Fettis, whose contract expires in summer. He is available on a free transfer. York boss Terry Dolan knows Fettis from the keeper's days with Hull.

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