BLACKBURN Rovers defender Shane Duffy has vowed to come back stronger after being ruled out for the remainder of the season.

The 23-year-old sustained a serious knee injury in training on Thursday and underwent an operation yesterday morning.

The procedure to repair the damage to his torn meniscus was a success yet his recovery is expected to take four months.

Duffy, a £300,000 summer transfer deadline day signing from Everton, was set to feature in the big FA Cup quarter-final clash at Liverpool on Sunday week as reward for his superb performances in the fourth and fifth-round wins over Swansea City and Stoke City.

"It's a massive setback really,” Duffy told Goal.

“I was looking forward to the Liverpool game.”

Duffy later tweeted that, while ‘gutted to miss the rest of this season’, he would ‘come back stronger’ as ‘I’ve been through worse’.

Five years ago the centre-back had to undergo life-saving surgery after lacerating his liver in a freak training ground accident while away with the Republic of Ireland international team.

The then 18-year-old lost 3.6 litres of blood – around two-thirds of his supply – following a potentially fatal collision with the opposition goalkeeper during a practice match.

But Duffy went on to make a full recovery and he had loan spells at Scunthorpe United and Yeovil Town before making the permanent move to Rovers in September after six years at Everton.

It is a fresh defensive blow for Gary Bowyer who will also without midfielder-turned-right-back Jason Lowe for the rest of the campaign.

Rovers boss Bowyer said: “It is devastating news both for the lad and the club.

“He is an important member of the squad and it will be a big blow for him to miss important league and cup games.”

While an ever present in Rovers’ run to the last eight of the FA Cup Duffy had lost his place in Bowyer’s side for Championship matches to Matt Kilgallon.

“It was an okay start but I still think I could have done better and I have more to offer,” Duffy told Goal.

“I’m disappointed the way it’s ended now but hopefully the lads can kick on and try and win as many games as they can now.”

Bowyer, who is also set to see striker Josh King spend a fresh spell on the sidelines, can currently make one signing, either on loan or on a free transfer, under the