ROBBIE Fowler is set to become a Blackburn Rovers player early next week after a short-term deal finally looks to have been thrashed out.

The former England and Liverpool striker will put pen to paper on a pay-as-you-play deal, which will keep him at Ewood Park until Christmas, with the club expected to unveil him in the next 10 days.

Fowler has been in talks with Rovers over a surprise return to the Premiership ever since boss Paul ince was given permission to attempt to lure him to Lancashire in July.

The 33-year-old trav-elled to Rovers’ pre-season tours of Germany of Portugal, with Ince impressed enough to offer him a chance to renew a once-prolific top-flight career.

The move looked in jeopardy a fortnight ago when it was reported Fowler had tried to return to former club Cardiff City, where he rejected a new deal at the end of an injury-plagued season.

But the Lancashire Telegraph understands a deal has now been agreed, with just a few final details to agree, and he will become part of the squad after Saturday’s home clash with Arsenal.

Fowler has previously been a team-mate of Ince’s both at England and Liverpool, with the Rovers’ manager confident he could still have an impact in the Premiership.

Currently a free agent, the striker is the fourth highest goalscorer in Premier League history and has scored 230 goals in 504 games so far in his career.