BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness backed Hakan Sukur to bounce back from the freak training ground accident which cast a shadow over the stunning 1-0 win over Manchester United at Ewood.

Rovers recorded one of their finest results under Souness's management after Garry Flitcroft's first half strike put a dent in United's title hopes.

But, after celebrating his side's fourth home win of the season in the Premiership, Souness then switched his thoughts to Sukur, who's now facing an agonising two months on the sidelines after breaking his leg following a tackle in training by Academy starlet Jay McEveley.

"It's an absolute nightmare for him," said Souness.

"He's been great in the three weeks since he came here. He's been training twice a day and he's done everything right but this is a tragedy for him.

"I've worked with him before, he's a proper fella and a proper human being so I'm sad for him right now.

"I really did have a miserable night on Saturday night because all I was thinking about was Hakan and not the game.

"To come here and get injured like that is very sickening but he's got the character to deal with this so I'm sure he'll get over it and I'm sure we'll see him in a Blackburn shirt very soon."

Sukur was training with the rest of his team-mates at Brockhall on Saturday in preparation for a place on the bench against United when he got tackled by McEveley and landed awkwardly on a hard surface.

"He was going in on goal, he was about to shoot, then Jay came over and slid under him so Hakan tried to jump over him and, because the pitch was a little bit frosty, his foot slipped when he landed and he cracked the back of his leg.

"So it was a simple accident, no-one was to blame, but he's fractured the top of his tibia where it meets the other bone and the medical

staff are talking about him being out for about eight weeks."

Central defender Craig Short said the rest of the players were gutted to hear the full extent of Sukur's injury.

"We knew he'd got taken off to hospital but we didn't know he'd broken his leg until the gaffer told us yesterday," said Short.

"It's devastating for Hakan because he'd only just arrived in England and he was really looking forward to playing in the Premiership but hopefully he'll get that chance again soon."

To lose Sukur before he'd kicked a ball for the first team is a sickening blow for Souness, too, but the Rovers chief has already ruled out a fresh move for a striker when the transfer window opens at the start of January.

"We won't be looking to bring another striker in because we hope Hakan will be back soon," said Souness.