Robbie Fowler will join Blackburn Rovers at their pre-season training camp in Germany after deciding to leave Cardiff City. The former England striker is expected to spend several weeks with the Premier League club before manager Paul Ince decides whether to sign the 33-year-old.

"Former England striker Robbie Fowler has teamed up with Rovers and will be a member of the travelling party on the pre-season training camp in Germany," a statement on Blackburn's official website said. "Fowler, most recently at Cardiff, will be expected to spend a few weeks with Rovers."

Peter Ridsdale, the Cardiff chairman, insisted the release of Fowler would free up funds for other strikers to move to Ninian Park. "We signed him last year with a year's option, but at this stage in his career it's understandable that he accepts an offer to go to the Premiership," he said. "We have to thank Robbie and move on, he goes with our best wishes.

"His image rights were important to us last year, but now we're looking at what he could do on the field. Robbie's move frees up our budget for us to look for another striker.

"We're pretty close to signing a new striker in a deal that I've been working on all week, when that's done we'll look for another front man to take Robbie's place."

Fowler scored six goals in 16 games for Cardiff last season but injury prevented him making an appearance in the FA Cup final against Portsmouth. He has been linked with a move away from Ninian Park all summer.