ROBBIE Fowler has promised Rovers fans he can prove one of ‘the bargains of the season’, insisting his hunger for scoring goals is as strong as ever.

The 33-year-old striker finally put pen to paper on a three-month pay-as-you-play deal yesterday morning and immediately vowed to prove his doubters wrong.

The former Liverpool man admits he thought his Premiership days had ended when he joined Championship Cardiff City in July 2007 but, now back in the big time, he is determined to grasp his lifeline.

Fowler goes straight into the squad for this afternoon’s visit of Arsenal, after receiving international clearance late yesterday, and quickly declared his intention of staying at Ewood Park well beyond Christmas.

He said: “All I can say is I have had a difficult time in the past year with injuries but I know what I can do and all I can do in the fans’ eyes is work hard and try to score a few goals.

“It is a pay-as-you-play contract and so if I score loads of goals perhaps I will be classed as a bargain.

“If I do well and score goals then what has anyone lost? I will only be a bargain though if I am playing and scoring goals.”

The Premier League’s fourth highest ever scorer, Fowler brings a proven track record with him to Lancashire having fired in 230 goals in 504 career games, but his move has still attracted the critics.

Fowler though has hit back, claiming he is far from finished, but accepts he will have to do his talking on the pitch.

He said: “I don’t think the hunger ever leaves you. Once you start scoring goals there is no better feeling and you always want to do that and I am no different.

“I am not one for keeping records. I just want to play well and score as many goals as I can.

“I have missed one season in the Premier League, it is not forever. Two years ago I was scoring goals and playing for Liverpool, so I have not deteriorated that bad.

“I know what I can do and the fact is I am in the Premier League and I want to stay here. I want to do well here and I want Blackburn to give me another contract, that is what I am aiming for.”

After a successful top-flight career spanning 14 seasons, Fowler looked to be saying goodbye to the Premiership when he signed for Cardiff last summer.

But just 16 appearances and six goals later, he was ruled out for the season in January to undergo a hip operation, before training with Rovers in pre-season.

He said: “Once you get older and start moving down the leagues, you probably hope that the Premier League comes calling, but if I am honest I thought I had played my last game in the Premier League.

“It was a surprise phone call but a good one. I have always wanted to do well and the fact is I have got the chance again and hopefully I can take it “I always said when I was younger I would pack in when I thought the time was right but, the older you get, you are more and more into the game. You never want to leave.

“Even if I did stop playing I would still want to be involved in the game as a coach.

“But now the older you get, you realise the end is nigh and football is the only thing I have ever done and the only thing I have ever wanted to do.”