BEN Marshall is ready to hand Blackburn Rovers a major injury boost by returning before the end of the season.

The winger was expected to miss the rest of the campaign after sustaining ankle-ligament damage in the 1-1 draw at home to Derby County on January 25.

But Marshall has delighted the Rovers medical team with a speedy recovery.

And, having enjoyed light sessions at Brockhall, Marshall hopes to return to full training next week in a bid to return to the starting XI before the season is out.

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The 23-year-old said: “I’ve been training on the grass for about three sessions now. I did a lot of work with the ball on Monday and a lot of running, so hopefully I can get a bit of fitness in this week, get back training next week and go from there.

“While it’s not been good being out, the recovery has been good. “The physio staff have helped me a lot – mentally as well – and I’m just glad to be out there and kicking the ball again.

“When I first got the injury the physios and doctors were telling me that it was probably going to be touch and go if I played again this season. But realistically my season was done. So it’s nice to be in with a shout of maybe playing some minutes on the field.”

Marshall’s injury could not have come at a worse time. After a stop-start beginning to his Rovers career, in which he struggled for fitness and confidence following his summer move from Leicester City, the former England U21 international was in fine form until his mistimed challenge on Derby’s Jeff Hendrick resulted in him being ruled out for the best part of three months.

“I was just about finding my feet and I felt like I was back to where I know I can be,” said Marshall, who fell down the pecking order at Leicester after initially establishing himself as a fans’ favourite at the King Power Stadium.

“It was going good for me mentally as well because at Leicester it was pretty hard.

“Hopefully I can pick up where I left off.

“It would be nice knowing I’ve been part of a couple of games before the end of the season for my own mind as I won’t have any problem for next season.”

Marshall’s former club Leicester’s 1-1 draw at Reading on Monday night means the gap between Rovers and the top six remains four points.