CHRIS Samba has called for an end to Gael Givet’s contract dispute after Blackburn Rovers were rocked by the news club captain Ryan Nelsen would miss the rest of the season.

Nelsen underwent surgery on a knee injury earlier this week, leaving Rovers desperate for the return of versatile defender Gael Givet for tomorrow’s trip to Everton – after not being ‘in the right frame of mind’ for selection last weekend.

Givet has been embroiled in a dispute with Rovers over who is responsible for a payment due to the Inland Revenue and had threatened to take the club to a tribunal.

Boss Steve Kean was yesterday confident the issue would be resolved early next week and Samba believes the sooner the better as far as Rovers’ scrap for survival was concerned.

The skipper said: “It is important we get Gael ready to play both mentally and physically. It has not been easy not having him around. He was recognised last season as the players’ player of the year. He is very committed and works hard in training and in games.

“He defends for his life. That is what we need that in the minute. We hope now we can get him back and mentally ready.

“I have spoken to him to try and stay up to date with what is happening. It is a small problem that should be settled by now and he is disappointed it hasn't been.

“I hope they will find an end to the story once and for all. The last couple of games is more important than a small problem that Gael has with the club.”

Boss Steve Kean revealed Givet’s surprise omission from the squad to play Birmingham last time out was due to the Frenchman telling him he was struggling to concentrate on his football.

Kean insisted he was ready ‘to play his heart out’ but felt he wasn’t in the right place mentally for such a crucial game, something he is confident has been fixed ahead of the trip to Everton.

He said: “I think we have sorted out Gael Givet. I have spent a lot of time with him over the past couple of weeks and got to know him well. I think he will be on the pitch for the Everton game. I am very confident about that.

“Hopefully in the next four or five days everything will be resolved and he can concentrate on his football. Hopefully we have resolved it and he is looking very positive.

“The other day he looked like he hadn't slept for a month. It was getting too much for him. I spoke to him on Wednesday and he trained well afterwards.

“Having spoken to him it has really been niggling away at him. It has come to a bit of a head.”

Rovers fans will be wary of Kean’s optimism after the Rovers boss confidently spoke of Givet’s ability to put his off-field problems to the back of his mind before last weekend’s draw with Birmingham.

Kean admits Givet’s late concerns had surprised him but insists he is confident there will be no repeat this time around.

“It did catch me unawares last week,” he said. “We thought we had put it in a box a little bit. I think we have moved it forward this week.

“We have spoken to him in more detail. He is happier in himself and I think he can see a solution. That is the key thing. Now he can see a solution that is crystal clear he can get his head around it.

“For my point of view I have to listen to his argument and find out if it is a legitimate argument.

"We then have experts to deal with that and my work is to get him into a frame of mind where he can perform as an athlete.

“Sleep is a big part of that. It is difficult if he is worried but I feel we have eradicated those worries.

"We have some big games coming up and he is looking forward to getting back on the pitch and bringing out his warrior instincts again.”