• Goalkeeper’s injury not as serious as first thought
• Samba backs Jason Brown to fill Robinson’s boots

Paul Robinson, the Blackburn Rovers and England goalkeeper, was today ruled out for up to four weeks after tearing a calf muscle against his former club Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Robinson pulled up midway through the match at White Hart Lane with the initial prognosis being a six-week lay-off. But Rovers have now confirmed they hope he will be back quicker than that.

“It looks like we will be without Paul for up to four weeks,” said the Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce.

The news remains a blow to the player as he battles to claim a place in England’s World Cup squad despite stiff competition from Robert Green, David James, Joe Hart and Ben Foster.

The 30-year-old was replaced at White Hart Lane by Jason Brown, who was making his first league appearance of the season.

The Rovers defender Christopher Samba is confident the 27-year-old former Gillingham player can plug the gap left by his injured team-mate.

He said: “We have keepers and whoever plays we trust to cover Paul Robinson and to do his best.

“If Jason delivers on the pitch what he delivers in training every day, then there won’t be any problem. He plays well for us when he plays and we will have no worries at all. We know we will be fine.”

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