WES Brown has joined the Blackburn Rovers squad for pre-season training - but he’s not on trial, according to manager Owen Coyle.

The former Manchester United and England defender was released by Sunderland after playing just six games at the Stadium of Light last season as the Black Cats survived in the Premier League.

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The 36-year-old has suffered with injuries throughout his stellar career and signed a a 12-month extension to his Sunderland contract last summer despite missing the final three months of the campaign with a knee injury.

But he is now fit again and is looking to stay that way as he considers offers, which could include one from Rovers if both parties are satisfied with the arrangement.

When asked about the presence of the Champions League winner on the training pitch at Brockhall, Coyle said: “It’s certainly no trial. Wes Brown has had such an illustrious career and is an outstanding player.

“The games he played last year with Sunderland in the Premier League, he was an outstanding player.

“I said to Wes come in and enjoy his pre-season and have a look at things.

“He has a number of offers on the table and he was in no rush.

“So I said, ‘Why don’t you come in, enjoy what you’re doing here, feel good about your game, and you and I will have a chat going forward’.

“It’s as simple as that.”

Central defence is one of Rovers’ strongest departments, with captain Grant Hanley having enjoyed a superb season last time out and Shane Duffy impressing both in a Rovers shirt and wearing the green of Ireland at Euro 2016.

Elliott Ward will be fighting for a place, while new boy Stephen Hendrie and Darragh Lenihan can also slot in at centre-half.

But Brown would bring enormous experience to the squad and not playing every week would certainly suit a body that has shown the ravages of a long top class football career in recent years.

If he was to agree a deal, he would join former Sunderland teammate Danny Graham at Ewood Park after the striker signed a two-year contract last week.

Brown is one of the stars to have come through the ranks of Manchester junior side Fletcher Moss Rangers, who also spotted the talents of Danny Welbeck, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford.

He signed for Manchester United at the age of 12 and went on to win seven Premier League titles, two FA Cups and two Champions Leagues.

He moved to Sunderland on a four-year deal in 2011 and played 76 times for the Black Cats in five seasons, many alongside former Old Trafford teammate John O’Shea.