REPUBLIC of Ireland international Alan Kelly is ready to fight for his Ewood future after asking to be taken off the transfer list.

I can exclusively reveal the Republic of Ireland international made the request during showdown talks with manager Graeme Souness yesterday.

And the former Sheffield United has now been recalled to the squad for tonight's Worthington Cup clash with Middlesbrough at Ewood.

"Kells has asked to be taken off the list and we've agreed to it," said Souness.

"I can understand the frustration both him and John Filan have been feeling because everyone wants to play first team football.

"But, as I've said all along, I'm not prepared to let both of them go and after nothing has happened whilst he's been on the list, he's now asked if he can be taken off."

Filan will start in goal against Boro tonight as Souness takes the chance to rest Brad Friedel following his World Cup exploits with the United States at the weekend.

But Kelly will return on the bench after recovering from an injury picked up during a recent spell on loan at Birmingham.

The 31-year-old originally asked to go on the list last season after Friedel's arrival saw him relegated to Rovers' third choice keeper.

But, despite subsequent loan spells with Birmingham and Stockport, no-one has come in with a concrete offer for the experienced shot-stopper, prompting his change of heart.