Fowler hoping for seaside swansong
IN a season of dramatic comebacks former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler is set to make the unlikeliest return of them all by signing for Championship play-off hopefuls Blackpool.
Fowler, 36, who last played a competitive game in England for Blackburn three and a half years ago, has been training for the last two days with the Seasiders with a view to earning a deal until the end of the season.
He would follow other Premier League legends, such as Paul Scholes, who came out of retirement in January to boost Manchester United’s title hopes, and Thierry Henry, who enjoyed a fruitful six-week return to Arsenal that saw him score three goals in seven appearances.
Since leaving Blackburn in 2008, Fowler, the fourth highest scorer in the history of the Premier League with 164 goals, has enjoyed a nomadic career which has taken in Australia, where he played for North Queensland Fury and Perth Glory, and Thailand, where he turned out 13 times for Muangthong United.
Fowler had been due to participate in the inaugural Premier Soccer League season in India alongside fellow veterans Robert Pires and Hernan Crespo but pulled out following doubts raised over the competition’s kick-off date.
Blackpool, meanwhile, six points adrift of second-placed West Ham, entertain fellow promotion hopefuls Hull at Bloomfield Road tonight but confirmed Fowler had not yet registered and would be unable to play.
ROBBIE FOWLER | CHANGING TIMES
Much has changed since Robbie Fowler made his Liverpool debut as an 18-year-old in September 1993
The Premier League contained 22 clubs including Swindon, Wimbledon Oldham and Sheffield Wednesday
Arsenal’s squad at the time had only three non British players compared to 21 today
Manchester United had just broken the British transfer record by spending £3.75m on Roy Keane