HENNING Berg insists Paul Robinson can still have a future at Blackburn Rovers after dropping the former England number one for “footballing reasons” on Saturday.

Robinson was stunned when rookie stopper Jake Kean was selected in place of him at Bloomfield Road, throwing further question marks over his future following Berg’s pursuit of Brad Friedel just a few weeks ago.

The Lancashire Telegraph understands Rovers will resume their interest in attempting to secure Friedel’s return from Tottenham Hotspur next month, but Berg is adamant former England keeper Robinson is still very much in his plans.

He said: “It was purely a footballing decision.

“Paul has been playing through the season. It was a tight decision, a difficult one to make.

“Jake has not played too much but I have seen him training and with the results we have had, given him a chance, and maybe that could make a difference.

“In the end I thought he had a decent game.

“I couldn’t complain about the goals, he couldn’t do much about them and, apart from that, he didn’t have too much to do.

“They had a free kick and a cross or two but they didn’t put him under that much pressure.

“He (Robinson) is always going to be disappointed. I would be surprised if he wasn’t, that is natural.

“Of course he was disappointed but that is the game of football.

“Most definitely it is not the end for him. We need all our goalkeepers.

“He has been playing every game up until this game. Jake played this game and we will see who plays the next one.”

The Rovers boss was also quick to insist a couple of Rovers’ old guard still have an Ewood Park future.

David Dunn and Morten Gamst Pedersen were left as unused substitutes at Bloomfield Road, despite Rovers’ dire second half efforts.

“David Dunn has not had many training sessions with us so how long he would have lasted I don’t know.” said Berg.

“Morten is in the squad, he has played two games and had one or two subs. He is here, he is a Blackburn player.

“I expect him to try his best in training and then when he gets his chance in the games.

“I want them to be disappointed, at the same time they have to have the respect for the team and we have other players who can come in.

“One thing is to be disappointed but we can only play with 11.”