BLACKBURN Rovers striker Chris Brown will be out for up to six weeks after undergoing an operation to solve the knee problem that has troubled him since his summer switch from Doncaster.

The 29-year-old has yet to kick a ball for Rovers after arriving at Ewood Park on a free transfer in June.

He was, however, an unused substitute in the 3-1 defeat at Wolves last time out.

But he has no chance of featuring in Gary Bowyer’s squad for Saturday's Lancashire derby at home to Wigan Athletic after having surgery on his knee.

Rovers boss Bowyer said: “Chris has unfortunately had an operation at the beginning of this week.

“He’s been battling along with a knee injury sustained in pre-season, we thought we got to the bottom of it but he had a reaction so unfortunately he’s had an operation.

“That has been a success so hopefully we are looking at four to six weeks with him.

“That’s good news in the sense that he now has a timeframe and he now knows what’s been causing him a problem but it is disappointing for him not to have made his full debut for us yet.

“He’s desperate to do well but we’ve now got to the bottom of it, so it is about gearing up to him getting fit and getting ready to challenge for a place.”