BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Barry Ferguson is closing in on a first team return.

The Scotland international, who has been sidelined for the last three months with a fractured kneecap, is expected to resume full training again next week.

And Rovers boss Graeme Souness is quietly confident the former Rangers star could even be ready in time to play a part in next month's crucial six-pointer with Leeds United at Ewood Park.

Ferguson is currently making excellent progress in his rehabilitation from the serious knee injury he sustained in Rovers' 1-0 win at Newcastle in December.

Originally, Souness was hoping the influential Scot might be back in time to face Liverpool at Anfield on April 4.

But a more realistic target would now appear to be the Leeds game a week later.

That would then give Ferguson the opportunity to get a vital game under his belt in the reserves when Rovers play Wolves on April 7, just three days before what looks like being a crucial encounter with Leeds.

"Barry is making great progress and is hoping to be back training in about a week," said Souness.

"The good news is he could be just two or three games away from re-joining the squad."

News of Ferguson's imminent return is another welcome boost for Souness in a week when Steven Reid, Lorenzo Amoruso and Paul Gallagher also stepped up their own comeback plans.

All three players have a chance of featuring against Portsmouth at the weekend in what is another massive six-pointer.

Souness is hoping to celebrate his 200th game as Rovers manager with a first home win since November 29.

And he says confidence in the camp is high following Saturday's 2-0 win at Aston Villa, particularly as the team kept a rare clean sheet.

"We have a solid group of players here. We finished sixth last season because we were a solid group and did everything right," said Souness.

"This year we've been guilty of making individual mistakes which have cost us dearly.

"But it's only a matter of time before we get it right and if we do that then we've got people in the team who can score goals and create things."

In the meantime, with the Nationwide League transfer deadline looming, two current Rovers players could be moving on in the next 24 hours.

Huddersfield want to take Academy midfielder Gary Harkins on a month's loan while Blackpool boss Steve McMahon wants to strike a similar deal for Ciaran Donnelly.

Meanwhile, Paul Gallagher has been called into the latest Scotland squad for next Wednesday's game against Romania at Hampden Park.