Thursday, September 11, 2008

Robbie Fowler to join Blackburn Rovers

Robbie Fowler is on the verge of agreeing to sign for Blackburn Rovers ahead of this weekend's showdown with Arsenal.

Robbie Fowler

AlexLivesey/GettyImages

Robbie Fowler in pre-season action

The former Liverpool and England striker has been without a club since leaving Championship side Cardiff City at the end of last season and has spent recent weeks training with the Ewood Park club.

The 33-year-old is set to be handed a pay-as-you-play deal after seeing his career dogged by injuries in recent seasons. He made just 13 appearances for Cardiff in 2007-08 but Rovers will hope that by structuring the contract in such a way they will protect themselves against any further problems.

He was offered a similar deal by Cardiff but rejected the offer in favour of trying to earn a contract with Blackburn. Norwegian side SK Brann were also interested before being scared off by his wage demands.

Fowler earned a reputation as one of the most feared strikers in the Premier League when plundering 120 goals in 236 matches for Liverpool between 1993 and 2001. But his career has stuttered since leaving Anfield for spells with Leeds United and Manchester City before he returned to Merseyside for one season in 2006/07.

He remains the fourth-highest goalscorer in Premier League history and he now seems set to be handed another chance in the top flight by Rovers' boss Paul Ince, a team-mate of Fowler's during his first spell at Liverpool.

Blackburn chairman John Williams said: "We have agreed in principle a three-month pay-as-you-play deal and we hope to have it tied up by the end of the week.

"If we go ahead on that basis and get it registered then if the manager wants him he would be able to be in the squad against Arsenal on Saturday.''

source: soccernet

No comments: