Long-serving stopper Brad Friedel looks set to complete his £2million move to Aston Villa after Rovers gave permission for the Midlands club to speak to the American and Ince has wasted no time in securing an experienced replacement after agreeing a five-year deal with Robinson.

The 28-year-old will be hoping for a fresh start at Ewood Park after a remarkable fall from grace at White Hart Lane which started when he was dropped as England's No 1, and ended with his first-team spot under Juande Ramos threatened by Radek Cerny and summer signing Heurelho Gomes. Robinson spent four seasons at Spurs after joining the north London club from Leeds for £1 million, making 175 appearances and scoring once with a 65-yard free kick against Watford in a league game two seasons ago.

He was England's No 1 at the 2006 World Cup in Germany but lost his place to Scott Carson in the final Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia last year and was also demoted at club level. Robinson famously fluffed a back pass, which ended up in the net, in a 2-0 defeat by Croatia in England's October 2006 qualifier in Zagreb.