Jones recovery heartens Kean

Blackburn Rovers are hoping Phil Jones will be back in first-team action within a month after the teenager made a quicker-than-expected recovery from injury.

When the 18-year-old damaged cartilage in his knee in December, the Rovers manager Steve Kean feared he would be out for the season. But a successful operation prompted a more optimistic outlook and the defender's progress has been so swift that he could be back in action next month.

Kean told the club's website: "He's coming on quicker than we thought, so hopefully in three or four weeks he'll be available for selection."