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Blackburn manager Steve Kean hints at widening rift with wantaway defender Chris Samba
With Blackburn 19th and recovering from a 7-1 defeat to Arsenal, the boss confirmed that the defender was left out despite being available, and did not rule out legal options
6 Feb 2012 11:27:00
By Arthur Virgo
Getty Images
Blackburn manager Steve Kean hinted that Rovers are looking at legal options as the rift with wantaway defender Chris Samba widens.
The Lancashire club were subjected to a 7-1 mauling by Arsenal on Saturday, a game which the defender sat out despite having no fitness worries.
Samba handed in a transfer request last month after an offer from QPR was rejected by the club and he is understood to want to leave despite having a contract that runs until 2015.
He has not played for Rovers since their home defeat to Stoke on January 2 and, though this was partly due to an ankle injury, he was absent from the squad on Saturday whilst being fit and available for selection.
The club can ill-afford the distraction as they lie 19th in the Premier League, three points below safety.
Although it is believed the PFA have not yet been approached to resolve the matter, Kean commented on the effect the dispute is having on the squad and did not rule out legal options.
"Obviously, without going too deep because it could get into a position. I'm not a legal expert. But he's fit and he's available for selection, but I've decided not to put him in the squad,” he told reporters.
"He's one of our key defenders and you always miss any player when they're not available. It's a position where we'd like to get it resolved as soon as possible, because I think the way we are just now is not really helpful for anybody."
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The Lancashire club were subjected to a 7-1 mauling by Arsenal on Saturday, a game which the defender sat out despite having no fitness worries.
Samba handed in a transfer request last month after an offer from QPR was rejected by the club and he is understood to want to leave despite having a contract that runs until 2015.
He has not played for Rovers since their home defeat to Stoke on January 2 and, though this was partly due to an ankle injury, he was absent from the squad on Saturday whilst being fit and available for selection.
The club can ill-afford the distraction as they lie 19th in the Premier League, three points below safety.
Although it is believed the PFA have not yet been approached to resolve the matter, Kean commented on the effect the dispute is having on the squad and did not rule out legal options.
"Obviously, without going too deep because it could get into a position. I'm not a legal expert. But he's fit and he's available for selection, but I've decided not to put him in the squad,” he told reporters.
"He's one of our key defenders and you always miss any player when they're not available. It's a position where we'd like to get it resolved as soon as possible, because I think the way we are just now is not really helpful for anybody."
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|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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Live!
England 1-0 Belgium, Netherlands 4-0 Northern Ireland - follow all the international action LIVE! ahead of Euro 2012
With countries across the continent gearing up for their final warm-up games ahead of Euro 2012, join us for all the action from Saturday's friendlies. Get in touch with us via Twitter with your reaction.
Hosted by Joe Doyle
Hosted by Joe Doyle
20:14 BST
The general consensus, then, is that Danny Welbeck should be starting up front against France with Ashley Young supporting him. How about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain? Did he do enough to earn a starting role at Euro 2012?
20:06 BST
So, that game gave a few players a chance to impress for England. Who did/didn't? Will Welbeck start against France? Or Carroll? Or Defoe?!
19:59 BST
Unfortunately for Northern Ireland, they are trailing the Netherlands 4-0 at half-time. Looks like that one's all sewn up then.
19:54 BST
We're still getting plenty of Hazard chat on Twitter. A few are now saying that he's not worth the hype, others saying he was brilliant(!?) and others (which I agree with), saying he created much of his own hype. What do you think? Get involved!
19:46 BST
Joe Hart has also been giving his thoughts after the Belgium game: "It was a really tough game, a good run out. I thought we played well, [but] we were a little bit bitty at times.
"But, we came through. Obviously there were a lot of changes so it's good to get the result.
"Belgium are a very, very strong side who are going to be really good in the future. Vincent [Kompany] told me about them and said that they were coming good and I totally agree with him."
"But, we came through. Obviously there were a lot of changes so it's good to get the result.
"Belgium are a very, very strong side who are going to be really good in the future. Vincent [Kompany] told me about them and said that they were coming good and I totally agree with him."
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