On Friday, Blackburn Rovers manager John Eustace confirmed Arnór Sigurdsson has been left out of their 25-man Championship squad.
The Iceland international hasn’t started this season and last featured for Blackburn Rovers against Watford on October 26th. He’s been sidelined with an injury since then, and his exclusion wasn’t a shock to those covering the club.
Vísir contacted the 25-year-old to get his reaction after Blackburn Rovers’ decision to drop him from the squad.
Sigurdsson reveals the Championship side informed him of his omission on Friday. He has been critical of Blackburn Rovers for taking this step, days after the winter market closed in several countries.
“It really surprised me. I only found out this [Friday] morning. I was called into the office and informed of this. It just comes as a surprise to me,” he said.
The Icelandic outlet says Rovers’ decision must have been a blow for him. Responding to that, Sigurdsson explained: “First of all, I think it’s just dishonest from the club, the way they do this.
“I’ve always been a professional in this, always giving my all for the club, but then they decide to do it like this. Wait for the transfer window to close and then report it to me. They put me in an impossible position.”
The attacker has less than six months left on his contract and suggests Blackburn Rovers weren’t keen on negotiating a renewal due to his injury situation. He didn’t anticipate the latest development since Eustace and the club told Sigurdsson that he’s still in their plans.
“I’m out of contract after the season and I’m injured. It may be easy to throw someone away when you are not going to renegotiate,” he added.
“No, quite the contrary. Both the coach and the managers of the club had already spoken to me and told me how important I would be to the team for these last games in the fight for a playoff spot in the league. That I could make a difference. But then you get this in your face.”
The winter market is open in few leagues in Turkey, Brazil etc but the Blackburn Rovers player’s immediate focus is on regaining full fitness.
“As I say, the club puts me in a bad position. First of all, I’m just trying to get fit and start training with the team here,” Sigurdsson added.
“As weird as it sounds, I just need to get out on the pitch and get the confidence in my body. I’ve been away for a long time, last played in October.
“My focus is on this March with the national team, to be healthy and to have trained regularly and have the confidence to be able to play football again.”
“There are some transfer windows open but it’s just something I need to look into. As it stands now, I’m not interested in anything other than getting well.”
