Ex-England 'keeper Robinson out with blood clot

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson is set to be out for the rest of the season and well into the next after developing a blood clot on the lung, his club, English Championship side Blackburn Rovers, said. "Paul is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering serious respiratory complications following a back operation last week," the northwest club said on their website rovers.co.uk. "The former England international developed a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung), which will rule him out for the next six months." The club said the 33-year-old, who won the last of his 41 England caps in 2007, was kept in hospital over the weekend but has now returned home, they added. Robinson's condition comes after scan results confirmed that fellow goalkeeper Jake Kean had torn cartilage in his left knee in Monday's 3-0 defeat to Cardiff City and requires surgery. The 22-year-old will also miss the last seven games of the season. Indian-owned Blackburn, relegated from the top-flight Premier League last season, are currently 19th in the 24-team English second-tier, just above the drop zone, and last month sacked manager Michael Appleton after just two months in charge. From: AFP