PAUL Robinson has not just come in to provide cover for Tom Heaton, but to push for a place, says Burnley boss Sean Dyche.

The former Leeds, Tottenham and England stopper signed a deal until the end of the season - almost eight months after his contract with Blackburn Rovers expired.

Having barely featured for the last part of his seven-year spell at Ewood Park, Robinson admitted he fell out of love with the game.

But some time-out has helped to get his appetite back, and Dyche said that when he met with the 36-year-old he saw someone with a real desire to prolong his career.

“All credit to him. It’s certainly not money thing for him,” said the Burnley boss.

“He’s got a thirst and the bug to come back in and play and I was really impressed by what he had to say and the look in his eye to be hungry to come back in and at least cover. You never know where that leads to because of his experience levels and the quality of the goalkeeper he is.

"He’s an ex-England international with some depth of knowledge.

“Tom Heaton is sitting on the edge of life with England so there’s an obvious link there.

“He’s great for our young keepers as well, as Gilksy (Matt Gilks) has been because he hasn’t played as much football as he would have liked but Gilksy’s good around the young keepers.

“It’s a win-win really."

But Dyche insists Robinson’s role will be more than just a mentor.

“First and foremost he’ll be cover for now but he wants to be ready to play, that’s part of it.

“Mentoring type scenarios come on the back of being a very experienced goalkeeper, but that’s not part of the role.

“He’ll be at least cover and then if anything happens he’ll get his chance to play.”