Blackburn turn to former England goalkeeper, 37, as John Eustace looks to secure free transfer

BLACKBURN boss John Eustace wants his old keeper John Ruddy to join him on a free next season.

The 37-year-old’s deal is up at Eustace’s former club Birmingham in the summer.

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Veteran shotstopper John Ruddy has become a target for Blackburn Rovers[/caption]

The ex-England international joined the Blues in 2022, after leaving Wolves when his contract expired.

It was thought he was signed to provide competition for Neil Etheridge.

However, he went straight into the first team line-up, keeping seven clean sheets up to the mid-season break.

His superb form saw his fellow pros vote him the Players’ Player of the Season in 2022-23.

Across two seasons at St. Andrew’s@Knighthead Park, the veteran shotstopper has appeared 85 times.

But, it was at Norwich City where Ruddy could be considered a club legend.

He played for the Canaries in the Premier League from 2011-2016.

His form also alerted then England manager Roy Hodgson.

Ruddy was drafted into the Three Lions squad for the first time for the Euros in 2012.

A broken finger meant he was ruled out of the tournament, and had to replaced by Jack Butland.

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Ruddy was called again up for the friendly against Italy in Bern, Switzerland, on 10 August 2012, along with Butland and Joe Hart.

He came on for Butland at half-time to make his senior England debut, and made some key saves as England won the match 2–1, keeping a clean sheet in his first England appearance after Butland conceded in the first half.

However, Ruddy missed out on selection for the 2014 World Cup squad, with Hart, Fraser Forster and Ben Foster selected instead.