COLIN Hendry, determined to see Blackburn Rovers' relegation battle through to a successful conclusion, has booked his date with the doctors - Thursday, May 15, writes PETER WHITE.

That's when the Ewood stalwart will go into hospital for more groin surgery on the injury he has carried for the past few months.

It means that Hendry - providing things don't take a dramatic turn for the worse - will be available for Rovers' three remaining Premiership games, at Southampton next Saturday and at home to Middlesbrough (May 8) and Leicester City (May 11).

And, by the time they play their final match, he should have achieved his objective of helping the club ensure they retain Premiership status ready for the arrival of new manager Roy Hodgson.

Hendry has put club before country too. For, while he will play for Scotland on Wednesday in their crucial World Cup qualifying match against Sweden, the timing of his operation means he is set to miss three more internationals.

They are Scotland's friendlies against Malta and Wales and the World Cup clash with Belarus in early June.

"I need the time in the summer to get over the operation," he said before linking up with the Scottish squad. "And it will also enable me to give a proper rest to the other side which I had done during the season.

"I played against Liverpool just four weeks after having that operation."

It was known some time ago that surgery was needed to cure the long-standing groin problem, but Hendry has been a key player in Rovers' revival and he was anxious to see it through.

"I would have found it extremely difficult to have been out injured and not involved after the sequence of events this season," he said.

But striker Per Pedersen is unlikely to be able to play for Denmark against Slovenia.

Pedersen damaged a shoulder playing against Sheffield Wednesday and he had his arm in a sling as he left to join up with the Danish squad.

"I don't think he's got a realistic chance of playing for them," said caretaker-boss Tony Parkes.

"It's not dislocated and there's nothing broken but he has suffered some damage and that could make him doubtful for us next Saturday."

Pedersen was used as a substitute for Chris Sutton, who picked up a hamstring strain after playing a part in the first three goals against Wednesday.

And Billy McKinlay has pulled out of the Scotland squad for next week's World Cup qualifier in Sweden with a knee injury.

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