Emerton is back in Australia after  suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury against Middlesbrough late last month.

He has undergone surgery to repair the damage and is preparing to begin a rehab programme to build up his strength.

Blackburn Rovers chairman John Williams told the Lancashire Telegraph: "Club doctor Phil Batty travelled out to Australia with him and he has informed us the surgery went very well and that he will be on the exercise bike as early as tomorrow.

"Obviously it is still a long road back for Brett, the six months that was predicted, but the surgery has gone well and he will now start his rehabilitation."

Emerton will miss Australia's remaining World Cup qualifiers and coach Pim Verbeek said earlier this month that it was impossible to find an identical replacement.

He said: "Normally Brett is a starting player. We will miss him of course. First of all it's terrible for him and second for his club. Last but not least, also for us (Australia).

"Of course it's a loss. This is a bad injury. It's clear he will be out till next season. So bad for him, bad for us.

"We don't have a second Brett Emerton available so we have to fill it in with other players with other qualities and that's what we're going to do."