BLACKBURN Rovers defender Markus Olsson will be fit for the north-west derby at Wigan Athletic on Saturday despite his shoulder ‘popping out’ in yesterday’s 1-0 home defeat to Wolves.

The left-back was down for a number of minutes in the first half before re-entering the field.

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After the match Rovers boss confirmed Olsson’s shoulder had popped out before popping back in again with physiotherapist Dave Fevre at his side.

The 26-year-old, who signed a new one-year contract with the club on Saturday, played on through the pain and his performance was one of the few positives on an otherwise miserable afternoon at Ewood Park.

Bowyer said: “We’re happy he’s signed a new contract and credit to him today because his shoulder popped out and luckily for us it went back in.

“He showed great courage to carry on and produce that performance.”

Olsson will soon have competition for his place.

Tommy Spurr, who has yet to kick a ball for the first team this season due to a groin injury, will continue his comeback by playing for Rovers’ development side in tonight’s Under-21s Premier League Cup clash with Aston Villa at Leigh Sports Village (7pm).

Spurr, having made his competitive return for the U21s earlier in the week, returned to training on Friday after contracting the sickness bug that has spread throughout Brockhall.

Bowyer said: “We can’t get carried away with Tommy and we can’t raise any expectation levels.

“We are not going to rush him, he’s had a couple of setbacks along the way so we are going to allow him as long as he needs to make sure he is 100 per cent right.

“We are delighted with the hour he got for the U21s on Monday and now he’s got to build on that, probably on Monday again for the U21s.

“There’s definitely been progress made there.”

The rest of the Rovers squad will be back in training at Brockhall this morning.

Their loss to Wolves means they will make the short trip to the DW Stadium on Saturday to take on struggling Wigan still six points behind the play-offs.

Bowyer said: “It is a feeling of huge disappointment that we’re all feeling.

“But you can bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow they’ll get back on their feet, get their heads up and give it a right good go at Wigan.

“It’s a great game for us, it’s a local derby we can look forward to, and we’ve just got to make sure we dust ourselves down.”

Rovers top-scorer Rudy Gestede has been linked with Premier League outfit West Brom.

But when asked whether there have been any bids for Gestede, who was substituted yesterday, or any other of his players, Bowyer said: “There’s always going to be speculation but until someone comes in with a bid, it’s just speculation.

“There haven’t been any bids, just paper talk.”