GARY Bowyer has denied that goalkeeper Paul Robinson’s Blackburn Rovers career is over.

The former England number one last weekend stated that he was ‘surplus to requirements’ at Ewood Park and that he would seek a January exit.

But Rovers boss Bowyer said: “For any player contracted to the club, and Robbo’s contract is until the end of the season, then it’s not over. Those conversations haven’t taken place and no-one has said that to him.

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“It’s competition, healthy competition, everybody has to take that competition on and Robbo’s no different to that.

“I can understand his disappointment and frustration but everybody just has to get on with it. That’s what the message has been to everyone.

“We’ve got a group here who are all desperate to play but unfortunately you can only pick 11 to start.”

Robinson has lost his place between the Rovers posts to transfer deadline day signing Jason Steele.

And, since recovering from a minor knee injury, he has seen the substitute keeper’s position on the bench continued to be taken by Simon Eastwood.

When asked whether it is a case of Robinson starting a match or not being involved at all, Bowyer said: “Who can predict what’s going to happen over the next 29 games?

“Obviously the January window comes and if something was to happen that suited everybody then we’d have to look at that but it’s the same with any player.

“Until then they’re all contracted to Blackburn and they’re all expected to train hard, which they all are, including Robbo.”

Steele, who is on a season-long loan from Championship rivals Middlesbrough, will be ineligible to face his parent club on Saturday week.