Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Ince says David Dunn's return from injury cannot come too soon.

Ince told the Lancashire Telegraph: "We are getting there slowly that is for sure. Dunny is getting better by the minute, which is good news.

"I think the end of December is still a realistic target. We don't want to push him, but the lad is very optimistic.

"He is running now and, although we have not put an actual date on it, we are looking somewhere around that mark.

"He scored against Everton in the first game of the season and is a very talented player. He is a completely different player to anything we have got at the club.

"He can make things happen and he has been sorely missed.

"By him getting back fit, hopefully by January, it will be great for us. Players like Dunny cost a lot of money.

"You can't always buy that creativity but Dunny is a local lad, loves the club, and can't wait to get back and help us up the league. What a boost his return could bring."