CRAIG Conway will make his return to action for Blackburn Rovers this weekend after missing the last three pre-season matches through injury.

The winger limped off with a thigh strain at Morecambe a fortnight ago, but returned to training this week and should feature either against FC Girona at Ewood Park today or against Notts County at Meadow Lane tomorrow.

Rovers manager Owen Coyle said: “Craig missed out the last couple of weeks but he’s back in training now and he’ll feature at the weekend.

“That’s a timely boost because he’s a wonderful player, an outstanding man and loves being at Blackburn Rovers.

“Those types of players are invaluable to us moving forward.

“I think we’re getting a healthy squad going into the weekend.

“There is one or two with little knocks and, obviously, we’re very wary of that and not to take any risks that we don’t have to in the build-up to Norwich City the following week.”

Coyle revealed his aim is to give the entire first team squad a good workout in the final two friendlies before next weekend’s Championship opener.

“The thinking is very simple, that we’ll play the game against Girona, we’ll set out our squad in that, and within that game some people might get some minutes towards the end of the match,” he said.

“But if they don’t have sufficient minutes then they’ll travel and play at Notts County on the Sunday.

“So we’re getting all the squad the match time under their belt for starting the season proper because we’ve got to understand it’s never going to be about 11 players, it’s going to be utilising the squad you have.

“I’ve said before, the player that plays five games is as important as the guy that plays 46.

“So it’s important that we make sure that everybody has got the match sharpness and the durability for the course of the season.”