STEVE Kean believes Gael Givet has a “massive part to play” in Blackburn Rovers relegation scrap after backing him to block out his off-field issues.

Rovers’ French defender returns from suspension for tomorrow’s crucial visit of Birmingham with boss Kean insisting his mind will be fully focused on helping his side to survival.

Givet is embroiled in a dispute over the terms of the contract he signed back in 2009 with Rovers over who is responsible for a payment due to the Inland Revenue.

The 29-year-old believes the club should settle the bill, understood to ultimately be in the region of £250,000, but Rovers bosses think otherwise.

Kean admits the issue does need to be resolved but, with Rovers just two points clear of the drop zone, has no qualms about throwing him back into Premier League arena.

He said: “Gael has the ability to put it at the back of his mind.

"It goes all the way back to when he first arrived, some sort of technicality problem with his contract.

“He has been able to put that in a box and come in and train.

"He has maybe used these games and training as an outlet that there is a bit of a problem that needs to be sorted out.

“I don’t know the legalities of it but it needs to be sorted out one way or another sooner rather than later.

“He has put that to the back of his mind and has trained really well.

"Of course we hope it is sorted out and that he stays at the club. I think he is happy here.

“He has shown his commitment to the team when he has played at left back or centre back.

"He throws his body, gives his all and is a very popular person in the dressing room as well.

“He justly deserved the players’ player of the year award last season.”

Givet has missed the last two games after being sent off after the final whistle in Rovers’ controversial 3-2 defeat to Fulham.

He received a straight red card for running towards referee Mark Clattenburg from the substitutes bench in protest to a late penalty award that saw Bobby Zamora score a late winner.

Now back in the squad, Kean believes Givet’s fighting spirit and passion for the cause can only help Rovers’ battle.

“Gael is a warrior,” he said. “He puts his head in places where people won’t put their feet.

"He is back in the squad and I am sure in the coming games he will have a massive part to play.

“In the three weeks he has been suspended he has trained really, really well.

"He showed his passion at Fulham and that probably overspilt with him sprinting at the referee in an aggressive manner and that was what he was sent off.

“We were looking good for a point at Fulham and he thought it was a bad decision.

"I don’t know how the ref could understand because he can’t swear that fast in French let alone in English.”