ROVERS winger Keith Gillespie could be handed an escape route out of Ewood Park.

The former Newcastle wide-man, who has struggled to make an impact with Rovers since his £2.35 million switch from St James's 18 months ago, is being tracked by a couple of Premiership clubs.

Manager Souness informed Gillespie of the interest last week and chose to leave him out of the club's pre-season trip to Germany in case there were any developments.

And, as the transfer merry-go-round begins to gather momentum, a deal could be thrashed out in the next couple of weeks as the 25-year-old looks to resurrect his career away from Ewood.

"The manager told me at the back end of last week that a couple of Premiership clubs have enquired about me," said Gillespie. "But I didn't even ask him who they were because until somebody actually makes a bid for me or wants to speak to me then I'm just going to get on with my training.

"The manager told me I wasn't going to Germany because he wanted me to stay here in case anything happened.

"At the minute everything is quiet but if something happens then it happens.

"I've got to speak to my agent in the next couple of days and until I do that I don't know who the clubs are.

"But it looks like I'll be moving on, especially now Craig Hignett has come in, because he played most of last season on the right.

"And the manager has got a lot of other options in that department."

Sunderland and Middlesbrough have both been linked with a move for the Northern Ireland international in the past.

But Boro boss Bryan Robson has just signed right-sided midfielder Christian Karambeu from Real Madrid.