Blackburn manager Paul Ince says he will give Robbie Fowler more time to prove he is good enough to play in the Premier League.

Fowler has been on trial with Rovers during the pre-season following his decision to turn down a new contract with Cardiff City.

Ince said: "When you've had an injury like Robbie's had, it's going to take time to get back up to speed again and I want to give him as much time as I possibly can.

"And that's not an old pals' act because I was with Robbie for two years at Liverpool.

"If he's not good enough, then he's not good enough - full stop. I can't afford to start doing old pals a favour because this is my first job as a Premier League manager.

"But if he gets himself sharp and fit, then I think we've got a very good player there."

Fowler remains a hero at Anfield, but he failed to make much of an impression at Cardiff where a hip injury restricted him to just 13 appearances and four goals.