DAVID Thompson is facing a battle to be fit for the start of the season after missing the bulk of Blackburn Rovers' trip to Germany.

The 27-year-old midfielder, who had an operation on his ankle at the beginning of the summer, is now struggling to shake off a knee injury barely a fortnight before Rovers' Premiership opener against West Ham United at Upton Park.

Thompson hardly trained in Germany and he ended up turning to world-renowned specialist Dr Hans Muller-Wolfhart, the man credited with saving the careers of Paula Radcliffe, Darren Gough and Jose Maria Olzabal, in an attempt to get to the root of his latest problem.

Rovers boss Mark Hughes insists the injury is not a serious one, but it's still a cause for concern nonetheless given the knee problems Thompson has encountered in the past.

"Thommo has had a little problem with his knee so he went to see Muller-Wolfhart in Munich," explained Hughes.

"It was quite handy that we were only 45 minutes or so away, so he had a couple of days' treatment there, which is why he wasn't around.

"But, hopefully, things will settle down for him now and we'll get him back again soon."

Thompson has only started 44 league games for Rovers in three years due to persistent knee problems.

He has had a number of operations and another set-back now would be a crushing blow for a player who is desperate to reproduce the kind of stunning form that earned him an England call-up shortly after the 2002 World Cup.

In the meantime, Robbie Savage should be fit to play some part in Saturday's friendly with Swansea after recovering from a groin operation.

The former Welsh international has not appeared in any of Rovers' three friendlies so far but he's now back in full training and itching for a run-out.

"Robbie's got a chance for the weekend," said Hughes.

"He's had three days of training with the whole group now and he feels good about the injury and the operation.

"He hasn't had a reaction so, hopefully, he should be able to play some part on Saturday."