ZURAB Khizanishvili’s Ewood Park future is shrouded in uncertainty but the Georgian is now readying himself to fight for a Blackburn Rovers first team recall next season.

The 28-year-old defender looked certain to quit Rovers this summer, having not played a Premier League match since May 2009, but a failure so far to land a move elsewhere could yet see him returning to East Lancashire for pre-season.

Khizanishvili spent last season on loan at Championship outfits Newcastle and Reading but, despite initial hopes of making either move permanent, the clubs have not been able to follow up their initial interest.

The former Rangers man is believed to be keen to move elsewhere in pursuit of first team football but a lack of potential suitable suitors, potentially due to financial reasons, may yet see him return to Ewood Park.

While the player is still hopeful his availability may generate more interest over the next couple of months, he is preparing himself for returning to Rovers and fighting for a first team recall.

His first team chances are likely to remain limited though, with Phil Jones, Chris Samba, Ryan Nelsen, Gael Givet and Grant Hanley all ahead of him in the queue at the moment, with Rovers keen to offload him to free up their own wage bill.

Agent Ivan Marko Benes, said: “We don’t really know what will happen.

"All we do know is at the moment he will be returning to Blackburn Rovers.

"There is nothing more to say at the moment.

“Of course he enjoyed his time on loan at Newcastle and at Reading.

"He enjoyed the chance to play first team football but those days are over and at the moment he is going back to Blackburn.

“It is very uncertain. He is open to anything and anywhere at the moment, but he does have one-year remaining on his contract and at the moment he is going back to Blackburn to fight for his place.

“Zurab likes the club a lot and if it turns out that he is back for pre-season then that is what it is. He will have no problems with that.”