BLACKBURN Rovers fans’ favourite Tommy Spurr is targeting a New Year return after going under the knife to solve his troublesome groin problem once and for all.

Gary Bowyer cannot put an exact date on when the left back, who has yet to make a first-team appearance this season, will be available for selection.

But the Rovers boss believes it will be a matter of ‘weeks’ given the shape Spurr has kept himself in.

The 27-year-old sustained the injury on the eve of the Championship opener at home to Cardiff City.

He was back in training within six weeks and played 45 minutes for Rovers’ U21s team on September 29.

But Spurr continued to feel discomfort when turning and he had begun to cut a frustrated figure around Brockhall.

But Bowyer has confirmed a smile is back on the bubbly defender’s face after the minor operation he underwent on Monday proved a success.

“Tommy’s got a smile back on his face and we’re delighted with that,” said Bowyer, whose side welcome Spurr’s former club Sheffield Wednesday to Ewood Park tomorrow.

“He had a minor operation at the start of this week to clear everything out and help him so he shouldn’t be too long now.

“He was 90 per cent there, it was just that last stage he couldn’t get to, but the operation should help him get there.

“His fitness levels are high so he’s just got to recover from the operation now and then he should be back quite quickly.

“It’s always a little delicate to put an actual time on it but we’re talking weeks instead of a lot longer than that.”

Markus Olsson has made the left-back spot his own in Spurr’s absence.

The Sweden international first broke back into the team at the end of last season after Spurr suffered a different groin injury.

Olsson’s performances were rewarded with a new one-year contract in the summer and his manager admits he is well on his way to earning fresh terms.

Bowyer said: “Markus Olsson has been tremendous, we saw it at the back end of last season and I’m all for players earning new contracts.

“I thought he did that last season and he’s come in this season and he’s on the right lines to doing that again.”