BLACKBURN Rovers goalkeeper Alan Kelly could be back in action before the end of the month.

Rovers' medical staff had feared the Republic of Ireland international could be missing for six weeks after he damaged ankle ligaments in a collision with Portsmouth defender Darren Moore last week.

But the 31-year-old is known to be a quick healer and the injury has already started to respond to treatment.

And although the former Sheffield United man can't put a timescale on when he will be ready to return, he is confident it will be quicker than originally anticipated.

"It swelled up like a balloon immediately after the Portsmouth game but it's gone down now and it's feeling better," said Kelly.

"It's state of the art equipment at Brockhall so I was even able to work on it whilst it was swollen.

"Every day there has been an improvement and I managed a bit of running yesterday so it's progressing quite nicely.

"So it's a case of wait and see.

"But if I keep progressing at the rate I am doing then I can't see why I won't be playing again before the end of the month."

News of Kelly's progress will come as a welcome boost to manager Tony Parkes who has been forced to pick John Filan, despite the fact he requires an operation on a long-standing shoulder problem.

And a potentially speedy recovery from Kelly will ease the need for Parkes to go into the transfer market in search of extra goalkeeping cover.

Filan needed painkilling injections to come through the 1-1 draw with Wolves on Monday.

But Parkes has confirmed he was always going to play him ahead of want-away Northern Ireland international Alan Fettis. And the Aussie stopper is set to continue against Liverpool in the FA Cup next Monday night after coming through his first game since October unscathed.

"John had a sore shoulder but there was never any doubt that he was going to play," said Parkes.

"And he seemed to come through it okay."

Parkes has also received good news on the injury front regarding the midfield pair of Damien Duff and Per Frandsen.

Both picked up knocks during the Wolves game but Parkes confirmed today that they would be fit to face Liverpool.

Jason McAteer will again be suspended but the return to fitness of Keith Gillespie has come as a timely boost for the Rovers chief.

The Northern Ireland international returned to the first team squad for the first time since September against Wolves.

And although he was an unused substitute on Monday, Parkes believes his presence does provide the squad with more attacking options. "Keith is still a bit short of games but you need attacking players on the bench, especially at home," said Parkes.

"Without Keith, our only other attacking option on the bench against Wolves was David Dunn.

"So I didn't worry about him being on there and, if he had come on, I'm sure he would have done okay."

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for Rovers' Nationwide League clash with Barnsley at Oakwell on Saturday, January 22.

Away fans have been allocated seats in the new North Stand which has replaced the Spion Kop.

Prices range from £16 for adults to £9 for senior citizens and juniors and fans are reminded there will be no concessions available on matchday.

Tickets may be purchased in person at the ticket office, by postal application or over the phone on the ticket hotline (08080 10 10 10).

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