BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer wants the futures of David Dunn and Markus Olsson sorted as soon as possible after the out-of-contract pair did not report back for training.

Fans’ favourite Dunn and Sweden international Olsson have not been present for the first three days of pre-season as their contract talks drag on.

The duo are now officially free to sign for other clubs after their Rovers deals ran out on June 30.

But Bowyer remains ‘very hopeful’ they will commit their futures to the Ewood Park outfit.

So much so that he has handed Dunn and Olsson close-season fitness programmes designed to get them straight up to speed if and when they do return to Brockhall.

Bowyer said: “The talks are ongoing at the moment.

“We are still working away at that and we want to try and get it resolved as quickly as we can because we want them back in training.

“We don’t want people missing training and having to play catch up.

“Everyone got issued with a programme and when the two of them do come in I don’t expect them to be anywhere less than where the lads are now.

“Am I expecting them to come in? I am. I’m very hopeful, yes.”

Bowyer wants 34-year-old midfielder Dunn, who has made 366 appearances and scored 59 goals for Rovers, to stretch stay at his hometown club into a 14th season.

And Bowyer is also keen for Olsson to pen fresh terms and challenge Tommy Spurr for the left-back spot.

But he could yet face competition for Olsson’s signature as the 26-year-old has been linked with a move to Rovers’ Championship rivals Ipswich Town.

Mick McCarthy’s men are in the market for a left back after selling Aaron Cresswell to Sam Allardyce’s West Ham United.

But reports last night suggested former Crystal Palace left back Jonathan Parr sits top of Tractor Boys boss McCarthy’s shortlist.

Ruben Rochina and Corry Evans have also missed the first three days of pre-season training after being given extra time off.

But Rochina will be back at Brockhall today with Evans returning on Monday.

The Rovers squad trained on the grass for the first time yesterday.

The main group included new boys Chris Brown and Luke Varney – who was on loan at the club in the second half of last season – as well as the transfer-listed Leon Best.

Bowyer said: “There’s only really Browny who has had to be introduced to the group – so that’s a massive advantage being that tight already.

“But we’re still looking to bring in a couple more bodies and if we can get the ones we want in quickly it will settle everybody down and we can concentrate on the football.”