OWEN Coyle admits he doesn’t want a repeat of the Shane Duffy saga with Ben Marshall - whose future at Blackburn Rovers looks increasingly in doubt.

Marshall is out of contract in the summer, and with the January transfer window open, the 25-year-old has again been linked with a reunion with former Ewood boss Paul Lambert at Wolves.

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Marshall has missed the last three games through a groin injury and illness.

And Coyle wants to avoid a protracted transfer saga similar to Duffy’s exit at the end of the August window.

Central defender Duffy left Rovers for Brighton towards the end of the summer under a cloud, scoring three own goals and being sent off in his three league appearances for the club after making it clear he wanted to leave.

Coyle is keen to avoid a similar situation with Marshall in a bid to stop it having a negative effect on a Rovers squad that is currently fighting hard to move out of the Championship relegation zone.

And despite re-iterating that Marshall is currently out with an injury, Coyle added: “I want players here that are totally committed and want to be a Blackburn Rovers player.

“I had these issues in the last transfer window and it was horrible for everyone involved at the football club.

“I don’t want that again because I don’t want it having an effect on the group of players that want to be here and wear their heart on their sleeves and are Blackburn Rovers through and through.

“That’s my priority, to look after that group.

“If there are players that don’t want to be here then that’s fine, let us build a team with players who want to be at Blackburn Rovers.”

Rovers would be due a transfer fee for Marshall should he leave in January, with Wolves reportedly readying a £1m offer, but he would depart on a free transfer if he opted to see out his contract and move at the end of the season.

Any funds received for players would be a welcome boost to Coyle who is looking to strengthen his squad this month.

Rovers have tabled Marshall a new deal to remain at the club and Coyle feels that contract offer for the former Leicester City man was a good one.

“Ben Marshall is obviously out of contract in the summer,” Coyle told the club’s website.

“As a club we offered him a very good contract and I have to give credit to the owners for that.

“His agent informed us last month that after a lot of deliberation, it wouldn’t be signed, and that’s their prerogative.

“The last couple of weeks he has been unavailable with a groin injury, and he wasn’t available against Newcastle.

“If the right offer comes in then I have no issue with that.”

Marshall has made more than 130 appearances for Rovers since joining the club from Leicester in August 2013.

But the right-sided player, who has been mainly deployed at full back this season, has not featured for Coyle’s side since the home reverse to Reading.