GAEL Givet has vehemently denied reports that he ‘refused to play’ for Blackburn Rovers on Saturday after not being included in the squad for the 3-0 defeat at Swansea.

National media reported that the Frenchman made himself unavailable to Steve Kean despite being fit, after the Rovers boss stated “he was not in the right frame of mind”.

Givet has been angered by suggestions he refused to play though and insists it was solely Kean’s decision to leave him out of the squad.

In a statement, Givet said: “I wish to make it clear that I have never refused to play for Blackburn Rovers.

“It was just the manager Steve Kean who decided which players would be selected for the match at Swansea.”

Sources close to Givet have told the Lancashire Telegraph he is still desperate to play a part in Rovers’ Premier League relegation scrap, and will be training with the first team this week.

He fears though a communication breakdown between him and Kean could see him frozen out until the end of the season.

Rovers fans were left baffled on Saturday at seeing Givet left out of the squad, despite Martin Olsson’s injury leaving the club without a fit left back.

Kean’s comments post match did little to clarify the issue after declining to expand on saying that Givet was “not in the right frame of mind” to be involved.

Sources close to Givet though have told the Lancashire Telegraph his exclusion followed a row between the manager and the player after training on Friday and at the team hotel at Swansea on Saturday morning.

Givet has not featured since being sent off against Arsenal in early February and, while he has had a hamstring injury for part of that, has grown increasingly frustrated at his lack of involvement when available.

He has been disappointed at what he perceives as a lack of communication from the manager about why he has not been using him with Rovers shipping goals - especially after Kean described him as his ‘warrior’ in the media.

The growing tension between the pair erupted at the end of last week, with Kean ultimately deciding the player was not ‘mentally right’ to play.

Talks will be needed this week to clear the air for Givet to return to the squad for Saturday’s visit of Norwich City, although it has again been stated his non involvement has nothing to do with any ‘contractual issues’.

The Lancashire Telegraph understands though Givet has been happy at Ewood Park and, as long as owners Venky’s showed ambition, would even be prepared to stay at the club if they did lose their fight to stay in the Premier League, as long as he knew he had a part to play in the future.