WORLD Cup star Hakan Unsal has given Blackburn Rovers a welcome boost with the news that he will be fit for the coming season.

Unsal, along with Ewood Park team-mate Tugay, was part of the Turkish side that eventually finished third in Japan and South Korea this summer.

But Unsal had a turbulent time, being sent off for kicking the ball at Rivaldo during his side's opening clash with Brazil, and then picking up a knee injury later in the tournament.

He did make a substitute appearance in Turkey's final game - the 3-2 win over hosts South Korea in the third-fourth place play-off - but the injury needed surgery.

Unsal returned to England for that operation in the summer and has been recouperating in his homeland since.

But he is making good progress and has pencilled in his comeback for their glamour friendly against Lazio on August 9 at Ewood.

To continue his rehabiliation, the versatile left-sided player has joined up with his Rovers team-mates at their training camp in Germany, where he will continue his fitness work under the Rovers' doctors and physios .

However he will not play in any of their three games in Austria and Germany and instead he is targeting the home match against Lazio for his comeback.

"Hakan flew straight from Turkey to join up with the squad in Austria," said chief executive John Williams.

"It's been good news following his knee surgery and he has targeted the Lazio game as his comeback in preparation for the new season."

Ironically, Rivaldo, handed a free transfer by Barcelona, has been linked with a move to Lazio and that mouthwatering clash could see the two go head to head again.

Unsal was controversially dismissed after he kicked the ball at Rivaldo as he waited to take a corner for Brazil in the dying moments of the group match.

The Brazilian fell to the ground clutching his face although TV pictures showed that that the ball had only hit him on the leg.

Tugay, along with American goalkeeper Brad Friedel, won't be joining the squad until their return next week.

As regards Rovers' bid for Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke, Williams said: "We are still talking to Manchester United, and the situation certainly hasn't gone backwards."

Williams reported no developments in the Damien Duff situation.

The winger is being reportedly coveted by several clubs, but Williams again confirmed there still had been no firm bid for the Irish international and flatly denied claims in some of today's national newspapers that a £9m offer had been made by Liverpool.

"We are continuing to negotiate with Damien and his advisors with a view to him signing an extension to his existing contract," said Williams.

Rovers are currently in Germany preparing for their first match of their tour against the part-timers of Sportunion Abtenau tomorrow night.