ROBBIE Savage is ready to prove the doubters wrong after emerging from one of the most traumatic periods of his professional career.

The 30-year-old midfielder is the first to admit that he has failed to live up to his £3 million price tag since joining Rovers in a blaze of publicity at the beginning of the year.

But now the former Welsh international can see a light at the end of the tunnel after making a successful recovery from the groin injury that dogged him for the first three months of his Blackburn career.

Savage first picked up the injury during Rovers' 3-0 win against Norwich in February and it got progressively worse as the season wore on, resulting in the player having surgery at the start of the summer.

At one point, the former Birmingham star became genuinely concerned by the situation but, after weeks of rehabilitation, he's now hoping to be fit for Rovers' opening game at West Ham next weekend.

"I'm just relieved to be playing pain free again because I was really, really worried to be fair," said Savage.

"When I broke my neck at Birmingham I wasn't as worried as I have been throughout all this because I knew that when that was fixed, that was it, but muscle injuries are different.

"The medical staff have worked hard on me, though, and I've just got to keep going with my excercises now and keep strengthening it to make sure the problems don't come back.

"I've been playing football for two weeks now, we've got another game on Saturday (against Espanyol) and then another week's training, by which time I should be raring to go.

"So, hopefully, I can be like a new £3 million signing for the club.

"I know that when I'm pain free and enjoying my football again, I'll be okay."

Savage stepped up his comeback plans with another 74 minute run out at Grimsby on Tuesday night and he feels like he's getting sharper with every training session.

"I felt good on Tuesday night. I felt I was getting closer to people but I've just got to be careful I don't do too much, too soon.

"I've got two games under my belt now and hopefully I'll get another 90 minutes in on Saturday.

"I've done more fitness work than I've ever done in pre-season because I couldn't kick a ball, but you can't beat playing football because that's where you get your match fitness and I enjoyed it at Grimsby.

"I've got to say the physios have been fantastic. Dave Fevre, Paul Kelly and the masseurs have all worked on me and people don't see what a good job they do.

"They've done all they can to get me ready so, hopefully, I can now repay them and the manager."