I feel wanted again and ready to win back my England place, says Spurs former stopper Robinson on arrival at Blackburn

Kitted out: Paul Robinson is delighted to have joined Blackburn

He said: 'It's a relief to be out of there. It's nice to be wanted again.'

Robinson, once regarded as the best young British goalkeeper, was devastated to be first dropped by England coach Steve McClaren last November then discarded by Tottenham boss Juande Ramos in the New Year.

But the 28-year-old former Leeds prodigy, Ince's first signing at Ewood Park, says his passion for the game is back and insists his £3.5million move to replace veteran Brad Friedel is not a step down from White Hart Lane.

Robinson said: 'I'm signing for a big, established club. Blackburn finished higher than Tottenham in the table and the amount of players Tottenham are losing, it's going to be a rebuilding job for them. I'm delighted to be here.

'I know what I can do and I want to do myself justice. I've had a rough ride for six months but I've never doubted my own ability. I feel I can be England's No 1 again.

'The best years of my career are ahead of me. Now I've got a fresh start and there is no reason why I can't add to that. I'm looking to the future and the challenge ahead of me for club and country.'

Robinson, a £1.5m snip for Spurs in the Leeds fire-sale of 2004, knew that his time at Tottenham was up long before Ramos spent £10m to sign Brazilian Heurelho Gomes from PSV Eindhoven earlier this summer.

Already shaken by the 'Croatia bobble' goal he conceded from a back-pass in a European Championship qualifier in 2006, he was blamed for a 2-1 defeat by Russia a year later and replaced for the crucial match against Croatia at Wembley by his old Leeds deputy Scott Carson , who made a howler as England failed to qualify for this summer's finals in Switzerland and Austria.

Ramos then piled on the misery by leaving out Robinson in favour of the unsung Radek Cerny, who has since left Tottenham.

Robinson said: 'When you're having a dip in form, you want the people around you to believe in you and back you. The most disappointing moment was being left out of the Carling Cup semi-final against Arsenal.

'I had four years at Spurs, three-and-a-half were very happy, and I'd never advise anyone against going to Spurs, it's a fantastic club with great support. I'd never try to put anyone off going there.

'But you fit into people's plans or you don't. Not long after Ramos came in, he made his thoughts and things quite clear to everyone. I could have stayed at Tottenham, I had a contract, but I didn't feel like I had a lot of choice.

'Maybe I had a dip in confidence at the wrong time when the new manager came in and things didn't work out for me after that.

'I didn't fall out with anyone or make any enemies. I could have fought for my place, but I don't believe I'd have started the season if I'd have stayed. I've got a great chance of doing that here. It was too good to turn down.

'This is a fresh start, a chance to achieve something. I have a bit of hunger back, which maybe I've missed the last couple of years. There's a bit of fire back in me. I've trained hard this summer and looked forward to this.'

Robinson refuses to be daunted at following a fans' idol in Friedel, who has joined Aston Villa. He said: 'Brad was an excellent keeper for this club, but I'm coming here to show people what I can do.

'I'm excited about what Paul Ince can do at this club. He's ambitious and we both feel we have something to prove. That's the type of player he wants, hungry and wanting to prove something and do well for this club.

'There's no reason Rovers can't push on. If you hear the players the manager wants to bring in, there is no reason we can't push for a European place. I know this club is right for me, going in the right direction and very stable.'

Robinson knows star turn David Bentley is moving in the opposite direction once Blackburn and Tottenham can decide a fee for the England winger, signed by former boss Mark Hughes from Arsenal three years ago.

Robinson said: 'Tottenham is a closed chapter for me now. David's been a big player for Blackburn. But the manager may need to restructure. If he can get a certain amount for one player and re-invest that money, it's up to him.'