Ooijer sets return date

Injured defender Andre Ooijer admits a return before the end of the season is unlikely.

Blackburn defender Andre Ooijer claims a return from injury before the end of the season is unlikely.

The Dutch international broke his fibula and suffered ankle ligament damage in a freak collision at Manchester City in the middle of January.

Ooijer was told by specialists that he would be sidelined for at least four months.

A playing return before the end of the season - even if Rovers were involved in the FA Cup final on 26th May - would therefore appear a little optimistic even if the former PSV Eindhoven star is not ruling out the possibility altogether.

"You never know," said Ooijer, when he was asked if he would play again this season.

"We might make it to the cup final. We all want to be there and that could put some injection into it [the rehab].

"But I don't think I'm going to get anything out of this season.

"You always hope so because it [the diagnosis] was four months and I'm two-and-a-half now and there's one month to go until the end of the season.

"If everything goes well, maybe I can train at the end of the season. But I don't think so.

"My goal is the start of next season."