HOPE Akpan is set to hand Blackburn Rovers a fitness boost and return in Sunday’s high-noon showdown at Fulham.

An ankle injury ruled Akpan out of the 0-0 draw at home to Bolton Wanderers last time out.

But the midfielder trained alongside his team-mates at Ewood Park yesterday as they restarted their preparations for the Craven Cottage clash.

Akpan said: “I was upset about not being able to participate in the Bolton match but that’s just part and parcel of the game.

“I’ve been back training during the international break so I’m just trying to get back fully fit and be ready for selection against Fulham on Sunday.”

Akpan has made a promising start to life with Rovers after his free transfer move from Championship rivals Reading last month.

The Nigeria international impressed when coming off the bench to make his debut in the 1-1 draw at Huddersfield Town.

And he was among Rovers’ best performers in the 1-1 draw at home to Cardiff City and the 1-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion.

But Akpan insists there will be more to come the fitter he gets.

“I think I’ve done okay,” said the 24-year-old, whose final full season with Reading was disrupted by a serious shoulder injury sustained while on international duty.

“I wanted to try and hit the ground running and I feel I’ve done okay.

“I still feel there’s plenty more to come, I’ve still got a lot more to give, and hopefully the team can start getting the results that we need.”

Rovers will travel to Fulham still searching for their first win of the season after the draw with Bolton stretched their winless start to six matches in all competitions.

“Us not getting a win has not been through a lack of commitment,” said Akpan.

“All of the boys have been putting the effort in, we just need that little bit of luck and that little bit of composure in the final third at key moments.

“But if we keep getting in there, it’s bound to come, so you’ve just got to stick with us, and we’ll get that first win.”

Fulham recorded their first league victory of the campaign before the international break.

But Akpan said: “They are a good side, they’ve got some good players, obviously Tom Cairney, who used to play here, but I think we can match them, and we can dominate them physically.

“Hopefully we can do that for 90 minutes and get the result.”

After a tough week on the training pitch Rovers were given the weekend off with David Raya, Markus Olsson, Fode Koita and Sacha Petshi taking the opportunity to return to their homelands.

But the players resumed training at Ewood yesterday – rather than at their usual Brockhall base.

The decision was taken to train at the ground after roads around Brockhall were closed for the second stage of the Tour of Britain cycling event.

Akpan said: “The lads have trained hard, they’ve put some good work in.

“There’s a good togetherness so hopefully when the games come we can capitalise on that.”

Rovers have seven players away on international duty with Lee Williamson and Darragh Lenihan in line to play for Jamaica and Republic of Ireland Under-21s respectively tonight.

But aside from Chris Taylor, who continues to recover from the groin operation he underwent before the start of the season, Gary Bowyer otherwise had a full complement of players to work with yesterday.

Rovers boss Bowyer may choose to field some of his first-teamers in tonight’s Lancashire FA Senior Cup first-round tie at Vanarama National League outfit Barrow AFC (7.45pm).