ROBBIE Savage is targeting the Intertoto Cup for a possible comeback after stepping up his recovery from a broken leg.

Mark Hughes' midfield enforcer is confident he will be ready to join in pre-season training when the rest of the first team squad reports for duty on July 2.

And assuming all goes to plan for the 32-year-old, he is then hoping to get the all-clear to play some part in Blackburn Rovers' two-legged Intertoto Cup tie against opponents yet to be decided later that month.

Savage has not kicked a ball in anger since he fractured his right fibula as a result of an X-rated tackle from Watford's Al Bangura in the middle of January.

Initially, the former Wales international had hoped to return before the end of last season, but a problem with the calcification of the bone (it effectively healed too quickly) ended up setting him back, and he was forced to put those comeback plans on ice.

However, that problem now appears to have settled down again, and Savage has even been able to do some light jogging during the last fortnight, which has fuelled hopes of a July return.

"I want to be on the starting line for pre-season training on July 2. That's my goal anyway," said Savage.

"If I can do that then that will give me six weeks of intensive training before the season starts, and during that time I want to try and play in as many games as I possibly can.

"I still feel some pain in my leg from time to time, and I'm sure there will be plenty more ups and downs before I'm at the stage I want to be.

"But I've done two weeks of jogging now and I feel I've got a good chance of being ready for the start of pre-season training."

While the rest of the squad enjoy a well-earned break, Savage and fellow injury victim Steven Reid will spend the summer months working closely with physio Dave Fevre, who has devised a detailed rehabilitation programme.

The midfielder added: "We're both doing okay at the moment. I was able to do a couple of 400-metre runs last week so I feel as though I'm making progress.

"But we've got to be careful we don't push ourselves too hard at this point."

Elsewhere, Ipswich chairman David Sheepshanks insists the Championship club are still interested in signing Franny Jeffers, even though he has described Rovers' asking price as unaccountably high'.

Rovers have already rejected one offer from Ipswich for Jeffers, which was believed to be in the £350,000 bracket, and they are holding out for a seven-figure fee for a player they signed on a free 12 months ago.

However, Sheepshanks is still hopeful a compromise figure can be agreed.

He said: "Blackburn have put an unaccountably high price on Jeffers, but we are still hopeful an agreement can be reached."

In the meantime, Rovers have played down reports linking them with a move for Derby County's midfield protege Giles Barnes.