GOALKEEPER Paul Robinson has admitted he will have to look for a new club in January as he fears his Blackburn Rovers career is over.

The former England star has lost his place between the Rovers posts to transfer deadline day signing Jason Steele.

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

That has led the 35-year-old, whose Rovers contract runs out in the summer, to declare that he believes his six-year stay at Ewood Park has come to an end.

“I started the season playing but then I missed a couple of games with a knee injury and since then the team and squad has done reasonably well so the manager has been pretty reluctant to change it,” said Robinson to talkSPORT.

“So I’m pretty much surplus to requirements but I’m training hard.

“My contract is up at the end of the season so I’m not sure if that’s got anything to do with it.

“I want to keep playing and, I believe, I’ve got another two or three years left in me.

“If something comes up now and it works for everybody then I have to look at what’s best for me going forward.

“I’m getting a little bit frustrated now as it’s the first time in my career that anything like this (has happened).

“I want to keep on playing. It’s difficult training all week with no end product.

“As I say I’m out of contract at the end of season so hopefully I’ll have a few options to look around (in January).”

Robinson, capped 41 times by England, has made 202 appearances for Rovers following his £3.5m move from Tottenham Hotspur in July 2008.

He spent 13 months on the sidelines between December 2012 and January this year after suffering from a blood clot on his lung that threatened his life.

He made an emotional return in the 1-1 FA Cup draw with Manchester City on January 4 and his performance in his comeback match ensured he swiftly re-established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper.

Robinson also started this season as Gary Bowyer’s number one.

But he has not featured since Steele was handed his debut in the 1-0 win at Fulham on September 20, a result which kick-started Rovers’ current run of just one defeat in 10 games.

Asked recently about Robinson’s position, Rovers boss Bowyer said: “Steeley has come in and done ever so well.

“There is competition for all the places and Robbo is no different on that front. It’s good that we’ve got that competition.”