10:11am Tuesday 16th March 2010
By Andy Cryer
CHRIS Samba has backed Jason Brown to fill the goalkeeping void left at Ewood Park after Paul Robinson’s World Cup hopes were dealt a heavy blow yesterday.
A scan on Robinson’s calf has confirmed Blackburn Rovers’ worst fears, with a serious tear expected to keep the England hopeful out of action for at least four to six weeks.
Robinson suffered the injury during the first half of the 3-1 defeat at White Hart Lane on Saturday lunchtime to frustrate his efforts of making a late push to make Fabio Capello’s England World Cup squad.
He is also expected to miss a substantial part of Rovers’ Premier League run-in, with an estimated return not until mid to late April, leaving Saturday’s replacement Jason Brown a rare chance to impress.
Since signing from Gillingham in June 2006, Brown has made just three Premier League starts due to the consistency of first Brad Friedel and then Robinson.
He did make three starts in Rovers’ run to the Carling Cup semi final this campaign though, and produced big performances in rare previous league outings, with Samba insisting they have every faith in him.
Mark Bunn will be recalled from his loan spell at Championship outfit Sheffield United, leaving Frank Fielding to continue his education at Rochdale, but Brown will be the man charged with helping Rovers to safety.
Samba said: “We have keepers and whoever plays we trust to cover Paul Robinson and to do his best. If Jason delivers on the pitch what he delivers in training every day then there won’t be any problem.
“He plays well for us when he plays and we will have no worries at all, we know we will be fine.”
Samba meanwhile insists it would be churlish to write off Robinson’s World Cup chances just yet, claiming the former England number one “definitely” deserves his place in the squad.
Robinson has been left on the fringes of the international scene by manager Fabio Capello, with the inclusion of the likes of David James, Ben Foster, Rob Green and Joe Hart, but Rovers’ giant defender believes, if fit, ‘Robbo’ should be making the trip.
He said: “I hope Paul is not out for too long. The World Cup is coming and he has to defend his chances. I hope he recovers quick and can defend his chances.
“We all want to see him back for us and for England. Of course he still has a chance. I think he definitely deserves his place for the World Cup for England. Hopefully he can come back fit and show that.”
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