BILLY McKinlay could be fit for the start of the new season after undergoing an operation for the injury he sustained on World Cup duty with Scotland.

And McKinlay could be joined in the Blackburn Rovers line-up by Sebastian Perez with the Ewood Park club now clear favourites to land the Frenchman's signature.

McKinlay underwent an operation in London yesterday afternoon after flying home early from the Scottish training camp in Avignon. The Rovers midfielder picked up an abdomen injury during training which ended his chances of playing in the Scots' ill-fated clash with Morocco last night.

And he was swiftly taken in for surgery on his return to this country which should allow him to report back for duty during Rovers' build-up to the new campaign.

Blackburn chief executive John Williams said he understood the operation to have been a success and added: "It was planned between the Scottish camp and our own medical staff.

"He is on the road to recovery. With a normal timescale he could be available to Roy at the end of pre-season."

Provided McKinlay's rehabilitation goes according to plan it would then just be a matter of developing match fitness to get him ready for the season's opener against Derby County on August 15 - seven-and-a-half weeks away.

Perez's path to Ewood may have been smoothed by Marseille's decision to pull out of the race for the highly-rated Bastia defender.

Marseilles have opted to direct their spending power towards the recruitment of young Bordeaux midfielder Peter Luccan instead.

And although Rovers would have been optimistic about getting their man anyway, Marseille's decision could tip the scales even further in their favour.

"Irrespective of whether they (Marseille) were in, or not, we were continuing to edge along and we are hopeful of being able to do something," said Williams.

McKinlay was followed home by Rovers colleagues Colin Hendry, Kevin Gallacher and the rest of the Scottish party today after they suffered further World Cup heartache.

A 3-0 defeat to Morocco ended any hopes the Scots had of reaching the second phase for the first time. Yet even if they had won it wouldn't have been enough to progress from Group A as Norway remarkably beat Brazil with a disputed last-gasp penalty to destroy Morocco's dreams.

Scotland's defence creaked to hand the North Africans a two-goal lead and after Craig Burley was sent off Morocco added a late third via a deflection off luckless skipper Hendry.

The Blackburn defender admitted: "It's difficult to swallow - very difficult to swallow.

"With Brazil getting beaten it does not really matter but we did not know that at the time.

"We did not start the game as we had hoped. I feel very sorry for the supporters. It's diffult to take, being beaten 3-0."

Manager Craig Brown echoed Hendry's comments, adding: "The biggest disappointment for me is for the fans. They have been magnificent and deserved something in return.

"We did create chances, even when we were down to 10 men, but we failed to take them and cannot deny that the better team won.

"We are just disappointed with our own performance because I always suspected that might happen.

"After Craig was sent off it became mission impossible and it was a mediocre match for us."

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