Zurab's not for sale, says Blackburn Rovers boss

10:40am Friday 14th November 2008

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ROVERS boss Paul Ince has issued a ‘hands-off’ warning on Zurab Khizanishvili after insisting the Georgian still has a key role at Ewood.

The 27-year-old defender looked on his way out of Lancashire after limited opportunities in recent seasons turned into almost complete freeze-out this campaign.

After making his first Premier League start against Chelsea though last weekend, Khizanishvili continued in the heart of the defence in Wednesday night’s Carling Cup win at Sunderland – proving he is far from finished.

Ince now has a selection dilemma, with Khizanishvili and Andre Ooijer pushing Ryan Nelsen and Chris Samba for a weekend start, with the Rovers boss insisting he won’t let his options be destroyed come the January transfer window.

Premier League rivals West Ham are believed to interested in the Georgian but, with a contract keeping him at Ewood until 2011, Ince remains determined to keep the defender on the books.

Ince said: “Kish has come in, he doesn’t say a word, he trains. He is a fantastic professional.

“He trains like he wants to be in the side. You don’t want players to train in a sulk because they are not going to get in the team “Kish is not like that, Aaron Mokoena is not like that either. He is a great pro and you need that.

“We have got to keep him. We are getting so many injuries and are not in a situation where we can really bring in other players.

“I think Kish is a very, very good player. He is vice captain for Georgia and when he has come in he has done ever so well.”

Midfielder Mokoena is another Ince is keen to keep hold off, at least until his contract expires at the end of this season, after an impressive rare midweek start.

While the South African skipper’s desperation for first-team football could see him exit this summer, with the World Cup in his home country in 2010, Ince has hailed the attitude of those who have had to show patience.

He said: “I felt I would have a look at Zurab. He did well against Everton and again did ever so well against Chelsea for his first full game and again on Wednesday, as did Aaron.

“Of course they are going to be frustrated. But you don’t want them to sulk, you want them to get on with it “You have to have those players in the team.”

Khizanishvili told the Lancashire Telegraph a few weeks ago he was growing increasingly frustrated on the sidelines but also stressed his future was still very much in the club’s hands.

He again stayed diplomatic after Wednesday’s win, insisting he understood a strong squad meant he was always fighting for a starting place.

He said: “I understand. All I can do is work hard and hope the manager picks me. We have a lot of good players in a big squad.”