Tommy Spurr admits Tom Cairney has been a ‘big loss’ to Blackburn Rovers.

But, ahead of Rovers’ reunion with their former midfield playmaker tomorrow, Spurr insists they have moved on.

Sunday’s trip to Craven Cottage will be the first time Gary Bowyer’s side have come up against Cairney since his shock summer switch to Fulham.

And left-back Spurr said: “We can’t deny that he’s been a big loss.

“He’s a talented lad and he was one of our best players in the two years that he was here.

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“But you’ve got to move on and we have moved on.

“We’re playing differently now with two out-and-out wide men.

“We will wish him good luck on Sunday, but there won’t be any friendship out on the pitch.”

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Cairney won the player of the year and goal of the season prizes in his two seasons at Rovers before he was sold to Fulham in June for a fee in excess of £3m.

The 24-year-old has made a flying start to his Cottagers career with stunning goals against Brighton & Hove Albion and his old club Hull City.

Armed: Cairney scores against Brighton

Cairney has been operating on the right-hand side of midfield for Fulham just as he did for most of his time with Rovers. That means there is every chance he will be in direct competition with Spurr on Sunday.

“If he plays down the right he might get a few down the back of his leg!” joked Spurr.

“Or I might ruffle his hair – that’d put him off more!”

Former boss Gary Bowyer claims that apart from Cairney's skills, shirt sales among female Rovers' fans have nosedived.

"We have missed him and we’ll always miss him because of who he was and what he was about here.

"When we first took over he was the type of model of player we wanted to bring into the club.

"Off the pitch he was fantastic, too, he couldn’t do enough for people. He was always very accommodating and, given his female supporters, I think he probably had the best shirts sales we’ve ever had!

"But obviously the bid came in and it was accepted. We didn’t want to lose the player and now he’s playing against us.

"After Sunday we wish him well. It’ll be a tough afternoon for his mum because she is a big Blackburn fan.