By Hayley Paterson Last updated: 12th July 2008
Fowler: Gambler
Robbie Fowler says he has turned down a Cardiff contract to gamble his football future on a trial at Blackburn Rovers.
The former England striker admitted that the lure of the Premier League was just too good an opportunity to refuse and forced him to turn down a lucrative contract with Cardiff.
He will join Rovers for an extended training period giving him a chance to impress new boss Paul Ince at Ewood Park.
But the 33-year-old will have to prove his fitness if he is to succeed in top flight football - which could earn him a dream one-year contract with the Lancashire club.
"I don't think anyone at Cardiff can blame me for taking this opportunity because I still have a desire to play at the top level," he told the Daily Mirror.
"Most importantly, I believe I can still do it. I could take the contract on offer at Cardiff, and there are no guarantees that I will be taken on by Blackburn, but at this stage of my career I've got to take a chance.
"I still love football, still want to go out and do it, and I'm really pleased that I have got a chance to show I can play in the Premier League."
Fowler is a long-time friend of former Liverpool team-mate Ince, but there will be no favours for the forward who needs to prove he is not washed up after a disappointing return to Liverpool in 2006 before being signed by Championship club Cardiff a year later.
The former Leeds United and Manchester City forward is renowned as one of the best finishers of his generation and he intends to look into taking his coaching badges over the next couple of years.
The Liverpool-born player will join Blackburn's trip to Germany for a training camp and he is expected to play in a host of friendlies during Rovers' pre-season campaign.
Fowler, who is the fourth highest scorer in Premier League history, could also catch up with Thierry Henry's goal tally - needing just 12 more goals than the Frenchman to take him into third spot.
Questioned whether the hitman can still cut it, he added: "I'm not trying to kid anyone, I'm not as fit as I was at the age of 20 but that's obvious.
"I feel I can still perform to a decent level. I have the desire still and that's important."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Bolton vs Blackburn |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Stoke |
| Wednesday 2nd December | |
| Carling Cup | |
| 20:00 | Blackburn vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Liverpool |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Blackburn |
| Tuesday 15th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Birmingham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Tottenham |
| Saturday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Blackburn |
| Monday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Sunderland |
| Monday 11th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man City vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 16th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Fulham |
| Wednesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Blackburn vs Wigan |
| Saturday 30th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Blackburn |
| Wednesday 10th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Blackburn vs Hull |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Tuesday 27th October | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Blackburn 5 - 2 Peterborough | |
| Saturday 24th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 5 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Sunday 18th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 3 - 2 Burnley | |
| Sunday 4th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 6 - 2 Blackburn | |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Tuesday 22nd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Nottm Forest 0 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Sunday 20th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Everton 3 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Wolverhampton | |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 0 - 0 West Ham | |
| Tuesday 25th August | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Gillingham 1 - 3 Blackburn | |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 2 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 0 - 2 Man City | |
| Wednesday 5th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Blackburn 0 - 0 Hibernian | |
| Saturday 1st August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Sheff Wed 2 - 2 Blackburn | |
| Saturday 25th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Leeds 1 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Tuesday 14th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Cambridge Utd 0 - 4 Blackburn | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Everton | 11 | 15 |
| 13 | Wigan Athletic | 12 | 14 |
| 14 | Blackburn Rovers | 11 | 13 |
| 15 | Birmingham City | 11 | 11 |
| 16 | Bolton Wanderers | 11 | 11 |
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