JOHN Filan is well down the road to recovery and believes he will come back to action fitter, stronger and even more enthusiastic after his lengthy lay-off.

The Blackburn Rovers keeper was back on the training ground yesterday - as opposed to working in the gym - and believes he could be fit again to play by the end of the season, following his recovery from horrendous arm injuries.

Just over six months ago, he was rushed to hospital, having broken the main bone in his forearm, dislocated the elbow joint and suffered ligament damage in a clash with Sheffield Wednesday's Wayne Collins.

Filan will have legacy of that night for some time, with a steel plate being left in his arm for the moment.

"I'll be half-man, half-machine next season," laughed the Australian keeper, who hasn't allowed the absence to get him down.

"It has gone very well so far, if anything I am ahead of schedule.

"And it was good to get back out there with Roy Tunks again yesterday, doing some handling and kicking.

"I am not diving yet and I suppose the big test will come when I start falling on the arm again but at least I am out of the gym."

Filan believes he could be ready to play again just before the end of the season but he will probably wait to make sure he is ready to throw himself into the pre-season build-up along with the rest of the squad.

"It will be frustrating if I am fit with just a couple of games to go but the main thing is to make sure I make a full recovery," he said.

"The surgeon did a good job in the first place and Alan Smith and Mark Taylor have looked after me well.

"I have just seen the specialist again and he is very happy with the X-rays.

"It looks as though they will leave the plate in my arm, at least for a year, to strengthen it. So there shouldn't be another operation before I start playing again."

Filan isn't used to being injured, so it has been a long slog for him.

"It has been something of a learning curve," he said.

"But I've moved into a new house and, while I wasn't very good at DIY, I am now! I've also had a break, which the medical team thought I needed. That means I will now be able to work right through the summer.

"And they tell me I will be fitter and stronger when I do come back. After such a long absence, it also fires your enthusiasm again."

Rovers will be in a healthy position for keepers when Filan is ready to return to the squad. For he made a big impression in his few games before being injured.

Meanwhile, Arsenal's goalless draw at West Ham last night meant they edged above Rovers into second place in the Premiership on goal difference.

The Londoners still have a game in hand.

Tickets for the next Premiership game, at Leeds on Wednesday, March 11 (kick-off 7.45pm), are now on open sale. They will be available until the offices close next Monday. Fans will be able to buy seats at Elland Road but concessionary prices will not be available on the night of the game.

Prices are £22-50 adults, £15 concessions.

Season-ticket holders can now buy seats for the Premiership game at Everton on Saturday, March 14 (3pm). It is one per season ticket with a maximum of four per person.

Any remaining will go on open sale from next Monday. They are priced £18 upper tier (no concessions), £16 lower tier, with concessions £11. JOHN FILAN: Ahead of schedule

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.