SIMON Garner believes that Blackburn Rovers’ players must trust the club’s judgement over whether it is safe to travel to India next week for the first leg of their pre-season tour.

Rovers’ plans have been in thrown into doubt following Wednesday’s bomb attacks in Mumbai, with the club keen to make a decision as soon as possible about whether the trip will go ahead.

Owners Venky’s have long been keen for Rovers to visit their home country to boost the club’s following in India but the club were yesterday taking advice from the Foreign Office and travel companies before deciding if it is safe to make the journey.

Some players are said to have safety concerns after three bombs killed 18 in Mumbai earlier this week but Rovers legend Garner thinks it is best for the club to make the decision rather than risking a split between the squad.

In 2008, the England cricket team made a group decision to resume their tour of India after it was briefly halted by the shootings that killed 173 in Mumbai.

Seven years earlier there had been greater controversy as key members of the side pulled out of a tour to the same country, after players were left to make individual decisions in the wake of the September 11 attacks in New York.

“You would want to avoid a situation like that,” said Garner.

“It is a difficult decision now on whether to go there and I’m there will be a lot people checking every day what’s going on over there.

“If they don’t think it’s right to go, they will cancel it.

“I think for the players, you listen to what the club say. That would be what I would do if it was me.

“The players might be a bit nervous about it but you look to the club to decide whether it is safe and trust their judgement.

“The players won’t really have all the information.

“The club will be taking advice on whether it is right to go.

“If the club say you are going on tour, you go.

“The owners will have good contacts out there and they will make sure the players are looked after and I’m sure wherever they are staying will be very safe.”

Rovers are due to fly to India on Thursday before travelling 160 kilometres to meet the club’s owners in their home city of Pune.

Venky's have been attempting to arrange an exhibition game for Rovers during their stay, with a game against Pune suggested.

The squad will later jet on to Hong Kong for the Asia Trophy, where they will face Aston Villa in the semi finals on July 27 before taking on Chelsea or local side Kitchee in their second match on July 30.

The squad then return to the UK, facing Kilmarnock in their final pre-season friendly on August 6 before they kick off their Premier League season at home to Wolves seven days later.