Callum Brittain hopes to be back in the fold for Blackburn Rovers when they host Swansea City this weekend.

The right-back missed the last block of five fixtures before the international break due to a knee injury. It was a problem that was assessed continually throughout the period but has taken patience to heal.

Brittain actually fractured his knee against Oxford United, almost two months ago, but trained and played at Burnley the following week. It wasn't until the last pause that a scan revealed the damage sustained to the bone around is his knee during training.

However, after taking a few steps back, the defender is now expecting to be fit and available for Saturday's visit of the Swans this weekend.

"When I found out that I'd fractured my knee, the aim was to get through this period and the international break was my goal," Brittain told RoversTV.

"I tried to push a little bit earlier than that but it just didn't happen. We didn't want to risk it so I've had a few weeks to get back in training and, hopefully, I'll be back involved in some capacity on Saturday.

"It's one of those injuries that you have to be very careful with it. The outer rim of the bone was cracked and I couldn't do anything, I was on the ski machine for about three weeks.

"It's about being patient, doing the right things, building muscles around it. It was a strange injury, probably my own fault going into a slide tackle in a weird way. I felt fine initially but my knee wasn't having it and the scan showed the damage.

"It was weird in terms of the injuries I've had before. You find out the news and then you get on with it and rehab. I've not been able to do anything, inside for four weeks waiting for it to heal."

It has been a frustrating period for Brittain, being forced to watch on from the sidelines after a good start to the season. It was one of the more niche knee injuries a player can sustain with time the only real healer.

Without him, Rovers reshuffled with Danny Batth forming a defence that kept three clean sheets. But two tough away games perhaps exposed the flip side of not having a natural option on that right.

Brittain had an injury-hit debut season at Ewood Park but put those issues behind him last term. With a contact-related injury, there's little that could be done to prevent this setback.

"It's been very frustrating. To start the season how we did, it felt we were on a bit of a roll," he said.

"It was frustrating to be pulled out of that and to be put off-feet for about four to five weeks. A frustrating period but I'm working hard and it's been easier to watch when the boys have been winning.

"It was a weird one because it happened against Oxford. Initially, I felt good and then I broke down again after the Burnley game in training that week.

"I went and had a scan and it didn't give the best results. I've had to be off my feet for a while, I've been keeping Scotty company for a bit. The physios have been great.

"I've worked really hard and over the last year and the summer to get my body in the best position I can be. There's nothing you can do about a contact injury. I've had my head down and I can't wait to get back out there."

After nine games, 15 points is an impressive haul for Rovers. The back-to-back defeats before the break were disappointing but, as Brittain points out, scatter them amongst the first two months and you might get a different outlook.

"It's a very positive start. We've created a fortress at Ewood again which is very positive. We're creating chances, playing well and the boys look good," he added.

"A tough week towards the end with two tough away games, a lot of travel at the end of a busy schedule. If you look at it at a whole and spread the two losses across the nine games, it wouldn't look as bad.

"Everyone is in a positive frame of mind. We've had a positive start to the season and we're ready for the next period.

"Home form is a platform to build on in any season. Win your home games, try and get points away from home and you'll be up there.

"It's something we really wanted to do this year. We struggled at home last year and we wanted to get that spirit back at Ewood and we have. The fans are engaging with us and it's a good place to be.

"The end of last year was a tough place for the fans and the players. You see more confidence now and everyone is together. It's a fresh start and those positive results, the new lads scoring at Ewood, long may it continue."