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Blackburn captain Christopher Samba is “fit and available” but will not be in the squad to face Arsenal on Saturday.

The 27-year-old defender has not played since handing in a transfer request last month , which was rejected.

Manager Steve Kean said he did not feel Samba was in the right frame of mind to return to the side for the game against Arsene Wenger’s side.

“I’m prepared to say he’s fit and he’s available but he’s not in the squad,” Kean said.

Christopher Samba

“I’d rather speak about people who are available to play against Arsenal. Chris has trained well but he’s not going to be in this squad.”

Kean had stated his intention to sit down with his skipper after Rovers’ 2-0 defeat by Newcastle on Wednesday night , and was hopeful they could put the matter behind them, but in the press conference ahead of the Gunners’ clash the media were told questions about Samba were off limits.

The former Congolese international is a huge figure for Blackburn both in defence and attack and Kean’s reluctance to discuss the situation is sure to cast more doubt on the centre-back’s future at Ewood Park.

Meanwhile, Samba’s long-time defensive partner Ryan Nelsen was allowed to leave Ewood Park after having his contract cancelled by mutual consent, and joined Tottenham on a short-term deal.

Steve Kean admits he has taken a risk by blocking wantaway skipper Chris Samba’s exit from Blackburn.

The Rovers boss has staked the club’s Premier League survival fight on this decision, after the defender claimed he would be unable to give 100 per cent if he was made to stay against his will.

Kean will tell the centre-half, who was wanted by QPR, Tottenham and Newcastle, to knuckle down in a meeting on Wednesday morning and claims he had to stand firm for the sake of the club.

“It could be seen as being a risk or it could be seen as taking a stance,” he said. “If we’d said, ‘Yes, OK’ we’d have been seen as being soft.

“I don’t know if you’d say it’s a gamble trying to keep your best players together.

“Would he sit and sulk? He might. You’d better ask Chris that. We put out the statement saying we wanted him to be here and we’ve stuck by that.

Christopher Samba

“The way Chris has performed after the last transfer windows have closed have always been of a very high standard so we hope that will continue.

“We want him to get his head round the fact that he’s going to be here.”

Kean, who signed defender Bradley Orr from QPR and free agent winger Marcus Olsson on deadline day, claims he may take the captain’s armband away from Samba.

The defender has been training on his own at the club’s HQ since handing in a transfer request.

Kean will assess the DR Congo international’s state of mind in the morning before deciding if he can include him in his squad for Wednesday night’s clash with Newcastle at Ewood Park.

“I’ll have a long conversation with him and see what his mindset is,” said the Scot. “It’d be unfair to ask him at 11.05pm how he feels about the captaincy and playing on Wednesday.

“That might take a few days.”