Blackburn Rovers midfielder Corry Evans says he would be closing in on a return to full training were it not for the ongoing suspension of football activities.

Evans has not featured in a matchday squad for Rovers since being stretchered off early in his side's 1-1 draw with Preston on the 11th January, on what was his 200th appearance for the club, when he was hit in the face by the boot of North End defender Tom Clarke.

It was later revealed that the incident had left Evans with a fractured skull and shattered eye socket, which has left the Northern Ireland international on the sidelines ever since, although it seems he has been making progress in his bid to return to full fitness.

Speaking to Blackburn's official website about his recovery, Evans said: “I’m feeling good. I think it’s around about 10 weeks now since the operation.

“The first couple of weeks were tough, just lying in bed every day, in a bit of pain, and from then, every passing day and every passing week things have been getting better and I’m feeling back to my normal self now and I can do everything that I used to do."

Discussing the progress he is making in getting himself ready to return to action, the midfielder revealed: “I’ve started heading footballs again, which was probably going to be the biggest obstacle to come back from – just building my confidence up again doing that.

“If the season wasn’t postponed, I’d probably be back in training round about next week.

“I just want to get back playing football. I’ve missed it for three months now already, so it will be good to get back out onto a football pitch. That’s something I’m looking forward to.”

Blackburn are currently tenth in the Championship table, three points adrift of the play-off places with nine games of the campaign still to be played at some point.

There is currently just over a year remaining on Evans' contract with Rovers, securing his future at the club until the end of next season.

The Verdict

This looks to be welcome news for Rovers.

The sight of Evans being stretchered off in the way that he was in that draw with Preston - after several minutes of treatment on the pitch - was enough to tell you how serious this injury was.

As a result, the fact that he now looks to be progressing well in his recovery will be a big relief for Rovers, and could even help them in their push for the play-offs this season.

With the campaign looking unlikely to resume for some time yet, Evans may well be ready for a return to action when football does start again, when his performances so far this season in the centre of midfield alongside Lewis Travis suggest he could still be a key figure in helping them reach a top-six spot.