Etuhu ready for Blackburn recall

Dickson Etuhu

BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Dickson Etuhu has moved a ‘massive’ step closer to a first-team return after coming through his first full game since recovering from a long-term knee injury.

The Nigeria international midfielder played 90 minutes as Rovers went down 1-0 to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium in the Barclays U21s Premier League on Monday.

Etuhu will now be assessed in training.

If he recovers from his first full outing in almost a year he could be included in Gary Bowyer’s squad for this Saturday’s Championship clash at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Rovers boss Bowyer said: “Dickson has been back in training for a while now but the fact that he’s played a full 90 will do him a world of good.

“We’ve got to see how he recovers from his first 90 minutes and we’ll do that in training as the week goes on.

“We’ll speak with him and make the right decision.

“It’s a massive step forward for him.”

Etuhu made his competitive comeback in the 3-2 Lancashire FA Senior Cup win over Rochdale last week.

The 31-year-old – whose last league appearance for Rovers was way back on December 15, 2012 – played an hour before being replaced.