Kean rules out Samba recall

Blackburn captain Christopher Samba is fit and available but will not be in the squad for Saturday's trip to Arsenal, Rovers boss Steve Kean has said.

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The defender has not played since handing in a transfer request last month, which was rejected, and Kean said after Wednesday night's 2-0 defeat by Newcastle he did not feel Samba had been in the right frame of mind to return to the side.

The manager had stated his intention to sit down with his skipper on Thursday and was hopeful they could put the matter behind them, but at a press conference the media were told questions about Samba were off limits. Kean said: "I'm prepared to say he's fit and he's available but he's not in the squad for the Arsenal game."

He added: "I'd rather speak about people who are available to play against Arsenal. Chris has trained well today but he's not going to be in this squad."

Samba is a huge figure for Blackburn both in defence and attack and Kean's reluctance to discuss the situation is sure to cast more doubt on the centre-back's future at the club.

Samba's long-time defensive partner Ryan Nelsen was allowed to leave Ewood Park after having his contract cancelled by mutual consent and on Thursday morning he joined Tottenham on a short-term deal.

Spurs assistant manager Kevin Bond revealed Nelsen would go straight into the squad for Monday's meeting with Liverpool, despite playing only one Premier League game this season because of knee trouble.

Rovers had expected Nelsen to go to Major League Soccer in the US before Tottenham's last-minute interest changed his mind, and Blackburn fans are sure to question his release if he does go on to play a part for Spurs this season.

Kean said: "He was having a lot of problems with his knee. Right at the last minute he got the call (from Tottenham) and he's decided to go with it.

"We understand the pain he was in and I hope their medics can look at it and get him back on the pitch because he's found it difficult. He's only played one game in eight months."

Samba tears into Rovers owners

Blackburn defender Christopher Samba has hit out at Indian owners Venky's, claiming they 'don't understand' English football, as he continues to push for a move away from Ewood Park.

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Samba requested a transfer earlier this month, claiming he had "given 100%" to the club for five years and that "now is the right time for me to pursue a new challenge". A move has so far failed to materialise, despite an offer from QPR and reported interest from Tottenham, and Samba has called on Venky's to grant him his desired move.

He told The Sun: "I signed a new deal last January because Venky's told me they had big plans. Names like Ronaldinho were mentioned and they promised there was going to be a lot of investment in the team. It hasn't happened."

He added: "They don't understand football in this country and they don't realise how much I've given to Blackburn and that they have broken promises they have made. I stayed because I believed them but they weren't honest with me and now I know I made the wrong decision.

"I share the frustration of the fans who must have believed the owners too."

The giant Congo international also claims the fee being sought for his services, a reported £15million, is unreasonable.

"I'm not a £15million player," he said. "Blackburn only signed me for £400,000 from Hertha Berlin and if they get £7million now then that's very good business.

"I've got nothing against the manager (Steve Kean). It's not like he's been given £100million to spend, he's trying to do the best he can with what he has.

"This is between me and the owners. It's personal."

Kean insists Chris Samba will stay at Blackburn

Blackburn manager Steve Kean insists Christopher Samba will be at Ewood Park when the transfer window closes despite continuing speculation over the Congo defender's future.

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Samba, who handed in a transfer request earlier in the week, was left out of the Rovers side which earned a 1-1 draw at Everton on Saturday.

The Congolese player has been the subject of two offers from one Premier League club, thought to be QPR, who are managed by former Blackburn boss Mark Hughes, while Tottenham are also interested.

But Rovers have rejected QPR's offers and Kean once again insisted after his team's battling point at Goodison Park that Samba is going nowhere during the current transfer window.

Blackburn face Newcastle in their next league game on February 1 after the window closes, and Kean expects Samba to feature.

Explaining why Samba did not play at Goodison, Kean said: "It's been a tough week because we've had a couple of bids for Chris from one club.

"We put out a strong statement and he handed in a transfer request, so all those things put together I thought it was best he was not involved.

"This is the last game for us before the window closes. He'll be back in next week and we can move on.

"We're trying to keep Chris. If Chris is going to move it's not going to be in this window.

"It's not a case where we're trying to get teams bidding against each other to get the figure up. We just want to keep him - simple as that.

"He felt he wanted to put in his request. He has done that and it's been refused. Today, you've seen we can put other players in and we've got real competition for places in that position.

"We need Chris and I want my best players at the club."

Blackburn, rooted to the foot of the table at Christmas, have now lost one in five games to give themselves hope of avoiding relegation.

They produced a battling performance at Everton and recovered to secure a point through David Goodwillie after Tim Cahill had ended his 13-month Premier League goal drought by firing Everton ahead.

It was a bitter-sweet day for Cahill. The Australian was at fault for Blackburn's late equaliser, while his goal was shrouded in controversy as team-mate Marouane Fellaini clearly handled the ball before Cahill forced the ball over the line.

Everton manager David Moyes also claimed that Blackburn's equaliser should have been disallowed for offside.

The Merseyside club started the day 11th in the table but dropped to 14th after failing to win for the fourth successive league game.

However, Moyes was pleased Cahill ended his goal drought.

"Tim has looked more likely to score in recent weeks," he said. "He's looked as if he has been playing better and coming into a little bit of form."

On his team's performance, Moyes added: "We just needed a little bit more in every department."

Kean holds Samba talks

Blackburn boss Steve Kean has held talks with Christopher Samba and told the unsettled defender he will not be sold.

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Samba handed in a transfer request this week but Kean said the club are determined that Samba honours his contract and the Congo defender will be allowed to keep the captaincy if he proves his commitment to the club.

Kean said: "I spoke with him (on Wednesday) and he knows he is not for sale. The day before he handed in a transfer request, that has been refused and we won't welcome any more bids and Chris knows the stance of the club. It is never nice when somebody hands in a transfer request but hopefully we can now move on."

Kean said he had the 100% backing of Blackburn's owners Venky's but accepted Samba might need time to accept the decision.

Asked if Samba would retain the captaincy, Kean said: "If he's playing and performing well and still wants to be at the club, yes."

Kean confirmed an agreement was close for Eric Black to be appointed as the new assistant manager and that French striker Anthony Modeste is having a medical ahead of a six-month loan deal from Bordeaux.

Bordeaux loan Modeste to Blackburn

French striker Anthony Modeste has been loaned by Bordeaux to struggling English Premier League side Blackburn Rovers with an option to buy, the French club confirmed on Thursday.

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The 23-year-old youth international arrived in Bordeaux from Nice in 2010, following a loan spell at second division Angers, but has fallen out of favour this season, losing his first-team place.

He has scored just four goals in 15 games for the mid-table Ligue 1 side.

Kean: Only QPR in for Samba

Only QPR have so far bid for wantaway Blackburn defender Chris Samba, Rovers manager Steve Kean said on Wednesday.

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Blackburn have rejected two offers from Rangers for the centre-back but have not yet received inquiries from either Tottenham or Paris St Germain, who have both been linked with Samba.

The 27-year-old this week handed in a transfer request but he is under contract at Ewood Park until 2015 and the club on Tuesday reiterated their stance that he is not for sale, and Kean told Sky Sports News: "The statement reads for itself. We want to keep Chris."

He added: "Obviously we know there's bids out there for him but it's a mark of what we're trying to do that we've refused the bids and that's where we are.

"We've only had two bids from one club. There's not been any other clubs in contact. Chris is under contract and we've been in dialogue with Chris (on Tuesday). We want him to stay at the club and that's what we'll be fighting to do."

Samba missed last weekend's win over Fulham, which helped Blackburn climb out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone, with illness but should be back in training on Thursday and could feature in Saturday's trip to Everton.

Kean, meanwhile, gave short shrift to newspaper reports that, were Samba to leave, his defensive partner Scott Dann would also seek a move away from Rovers, saying: "I've dismissed that totally that there was anything in Scott's contract that said Chris had to stay."

The Scot has so far been unable to add to his squad this month but moved to reassure fans that the club is working hard to ensure there will be new arrivals.

Kean said: "I think it's been quite slow for a number of clubs and we're one of them. We've been very active; myself, the directors, the owners. We've had extensive lists, we've got bids and we're hopeful we can bring new faces in."

Rovers could return with a higher bid for Fulham striker Andrew Johnson, and Kean added: "We respect Fulham and we don't want to disclose what level that's at. That's one name but there's another four or five names we're actively trying to pursue."

Rovers skipper 'not for sale'

Blackburn have insisted Chris Samba is not for sale despite the club captain handing in a transfer request.

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The Congolese defender told Rovers on Monday he wanted to leave before the end of the current transfer window. However, the club - who have already turned down two bids for the centre-back last week - have stressed they have no plans to sell the 27-year-old.

"Blackburn Rovers reiterate that team captain Chris Samba is not for sale," said a statement. "The player signed a new contract with the club less than a year ago which runs to June 2015."

Samba hands in transfer request

Blackburn captain Christopher Samba has handed in a transfer request, his management company have confirmed.

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Samba was last week quoted in L'Equipe saying that his club, who are struggling near the bottom of the Barclays Premier League, "doesn't evolve at all'', that "things have not gone as I was told'' and that he felt it was "time for a change''.

The defender has been linked with Tottenham and QPR, and Rovers manager Steve Kean revealed on Friday that two bids had been turned down for the player. The Scot also stressed that Samba was not for sale, but the 27-year-old has now made it clear that he wants to leave Ewood Park.

In a statement, Samba said: "I have today officially requested a transfer from Blackburn Rovers Football Club. I have personally informed the owners, manager and executives at the club that I want to leave in this transfer window."

"In my five years at Blackburn Rovers Football Club I have always given 100 per cent in every game I have played. I have had several opportunities to leave but I have always stayed.

"I have decided now is the right time for me to pursue a new challenge and I have asked the club to respect my decision and allow me to leave.

"I thank the fans for their support and I hope they feel I have served them and their club well."

Kean insists Samba is not for sale

Blackburn manager Steve Kean has reiterated his stance that Chris Samba is not for sale and he hopes the defender will be available for selection next weekend.

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Samba, who has been linked with Tottenham, QPR and Paris St Germain, missed Saturday's win over Fulham after calling in sick the previous day. His absence aroused suspicion, however, as it came in the wake of an interview he did with L'Equipe in which he was quoted as saying, "It is time for a change".

However, Kean is determined to hang on to Samba, who signed a new five-year contract with the club almost a year ago. He told the Lancashire Telegraph: "He's not for sale, it's as simple as that."

He added: "He'll be back in again and hopefully ready for Everton."

The club are not commenting on a letter by former Rovers directors to owners Venky's which was made public over the weekend.

Ex-chairman John Williams, Tom Finn, the then managing director, and Martin Goodman, formerly the finance director, wrote to co-owner Anuradha Desai last January expressing their concerns about the way the club was being run.

All three have since left Ewood Park and although Paul Hunt was hired as deputy chief executive and Karen Silk replaced Goodman concerns remain among fans, many of whom have been protesting against the India-based owners for the last few months.

In the letter the trio expressed their worries that the board on which they sat was being marginalised in the decision-making processes at Ewood Park and that Kean, who at that time had been in the job less than a month, needed greater support.

It is a situation which many feel still needs addressing with Kean still looking for assistant coach to replace Paul Clement, who was in the job for less than three months before moving to Paris St Germain to be reunited with former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Eric Black, formerly Steve Bruce's assistant at Sunderland, and ex-Blackburn midfielder Billy McKinlay, currently working as a youth coach at Fulham, have been linked with the job.

Absent Samba set for tests

Wantaway Blackburn central defender Christopher Samba is to go into hospital for tests after falling ill ahead of the club's superb win over Fulham.

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Rovers manager Steve Kean confirmed on Saturday, after a 3-1 victory at home to the Cottagers achieved with only 10 men after Ayegbeni Yakubu's 23rd-minute dismissal, that Samba then claimed to be sick on Friday morning.

"He trained really well all week, but then he texted the doctor on Friday to say he was not feeling well," said Kean. "That was really disappointing because he would certainly have been available to play.

He added: "So he'll be at the hospital either [on Saturday night] or [Sunday] morning, just for tests because he has complained of severe stomach cramps. We'll make sure the virus he has is not too serious, that it clears up and he can be available for Everton."

After Yakubu saw red for the first time in his nine-year English football career for a high, studs-first challenge on Danny Murphy, it was Rovers who took the initiative.

Morten Gamst Pederson scored with virtually the last kick of the first half with a 20-yard free-kick, with David Dunn netting his first goal since February 5 last year just 56 seconds into the second period.

Although Damien Duff pulled one back soon after, substitute Mauro Formica settled matters in the 79th minute to lift Rovers out of the bottom three for the first time in four months.

For Fulham, it was only their second defeat in their last eight games, pulling them to within six points of the relegation zone, and Jol said: "It looked like everything was going for us, but then we conceded a goal just before half-time, which is not what you want.

"We tried to repair the damage, but then they scored a second early in the second half, which we couldn't do anything about.

"We pulled one back, but when they got their third it was over, so all credit to them."

Blackburn 3-1 Fulham: Match Report

The first red card of Ayegbeni Yakubu's nine-year career in English football midway through the first half seemed to add to beleaguered manager Steve Kean's woes.

But Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Dunn struck either side of the interval, and despite Damien Duff pulling one back, substitute Mauro Formica sealed only Rovers' fourth league win of the season.

QPR and Wigan still have to play this weekend, but the fact Rovers sit 17th after this game will at least give Kean encouragement.

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The latest fans' protest against owners Venky's outside the ground before kick off was but a sideshow, and completely forgotten about come the final whistle.

The fans, though, are having their say with their feet as just 18,003 turned up at Ewood Park, the worst league crowd for many years.

Those that stayed away, however, missed a rousing performance from Kean's side, who were spurred into action after Yakubu's dismissal.

Bobby Zamora had just planted a header on to the angle of bar and post from a Damien Duff right-wing cross when the complexion of the game changed, albeit in Rovers' favour.

Kean could be seen mouthing 'That's a disgrace' towards referee Anthony Taylor, but the Cheshire official brandished the red card.

In going for a loose ball with Danny Murphy, Yakubu was high with his right boot, and to add to his indiscretion his studs were showing, catching the Fulham midfielder on his right knee.

It means Rovers will be without their leading scorer for the next three matches, all in the league against Everton, Newcastle and Arsenal, with the middle fixture of those on home soil.

Despite that, it was Rovers who went into the break with the lead, and perhaps rightly so as Fulham showed little invention with the extra man.

Zamora did come within inches of turning home a low ball into the six-yard box from Moussa Dembele, and Paul Robinson made a superb save six minutes from the break.

That saw the England international at his best in clawing away a goal-bound header from Philippe Senderos after the defender was allowed to rise unchecked on to a free-kick from Murphy.

But in the fourth minute of injury time Pedersen stroked home his third goal of the season, curling a low 20-yard free-kick beyond the outstretched grasp of David Stockdale after Bryan Ruiz had brought down Dunn.

If Martin Jol had given his players a roasting during the break, it had virtually no time to sink in because just 56 seconds into the second half Blackburn doubled their lead.

Steven Nzonzi's initial drive inside the area was blocked by John Arne Riise, however, the rebound fell to Dunn who struck a piledriver of a shot beyond Stockdale for his first goal since February 5 last year.

Fulham were finally roused, and four minutes later they thought they had pulled one back, only for Clint Dempsey to be narrowly flagged offside in heading home a save from Robinson who had initially palmed away a stinging effort from Riise.

Less than six minutes later, though, they were back in the game, and all too easily at that.

When Murphy played a pass out towards Duff, who was outside the area and 20 yards from goal at that point, there appeared to be no danger.

Duff, however, eased his way into the box and from an acute angle stroked a right-foot drive beyond a static Robinson for his fifth goal of the season, and second in successive games.

Rovers, though, should have restored their two-goal cushion in the 65th minute, only for Stockdale to beat away Junior Hoilett's 12-yard effort after being teed up by Pedersen.

With less than 20 minutes remaining Jol threw on Blackburn target Andrew Johnson for Riise, sacrificing a defender for a striker in a bid to salvage something from the game.

But in the 79th minute it was Rovers who grabbed the next goal with 69th-minute sub Mauro Formica beating Stockdale with aplomb from 12 yards after being played in by Nzonzi.

Blackburn V Fulham at Ewood Park : Match Preview

Blackburn manager Steve Kean admits this weekend's Barclays Premier League fixture schedule looks promising for his team - but is taking nothing for granted.

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Rovers, currently bottom of the table, host Fulham while fellow strugglers Bolton (18th) and Wolves (16th) are at Manchester United and Tottenham respectively.

Sunday then sees 17th-placed QPR travel to high-flying Newcastle before second-bottom Wigan take on leaders Manchester City at the DW Stadium on Monday night.

A win could take Blackburn out of the relegation zone if other results go their way and Kean feels there is a "very good chance" Rovers will have their heads above water so long as they seal the three points against the Cottagers.

Having seen his side spring a surprise in recent weeks by drawing 1-1 at Anfield and winning 3-2 at Old Trafford, though, the Scot knows it is risky trying to predict how games will go and insists the focus simply needs to be on the job at Ewood Park.

"We know some of the teams around us have got difficult fixtures this weekend,"

Kean said. "We also know there can be upsets, though, because people probably looked at our last two away games (in the league) and thought we weren't going to get anything.

"What you can guarantee is looking after your own results. "We will go into the Fulham game with lots more people available, a good training week under our belt and we know if we can get a positive result, there is a very good chance that we can climb out of the bottom three with plenty of games to go."

Blackburn are set to have several key players back, with goalkeeper Paul Robinson (calf), winger Junior Hoilett and central midfielder David Dunn (both hamstring) all in line to make their returns from injury having been in full training this week.

Captain Christopher Samba - who Kean says is not for sale - is also fit again after sitting out the FA Cup defeat at Newcastle last weekend due to an ankle knock and tight hamstring. After the encouraging results on the road, Rovers were brought crashing back down to earth in their last league outing by a 2-1 home defeat to Stoke.

Fulham boss Martin Jol has praised Blackburn's board for sticking with under-fire Kean. Owners Venky's and Kean have come under fire from unhappy fans, leading to calls for both to leave the Lancashire outfit. Jol admits he has never seen anything like it before during his career in professional football and admires the owners for their backing of Kean.

"It is an awkward situation," the Fulham manager said. "Most of the time the club, the board and the owners will give in after a couple of week and we, the managers, are gone. "But they have stuck with him and you get a different situation.

"I think this could be the first time probably in the history of the Premier League that a board stuck with their manager [under such pressure]. How many times will that happen?

"You need time for development as well as results, which is not a good combination. "Of course as you saw with QPR it is a tough job and people have to make decision like that." Jol was referring to Neil Warnock's sacking as QPR manager earlier this week after a string of poor performances.

Warnock claims he would have kept the R's in the Premier League and Jol believes Kean can do the same if Blackburn stick with him.

"I feel for any manager that is under pressure," he said. "He, of course, needs time. "He does not necessarily have a young team but there are a few good youngsters there. I think they have been a bit unfortunate. "Hopefully they will let him get on with his job and then you will see, with his younger players and Yakubu up front, they will be fine."

Jol does not necessarily agree this is a good time to be playing Rovers. "Every game is different," he said. "If you saw them over the last four or five games they were always on the fringe of doing something good, but then they conceded a goal and that was awful for them.

"But it is not easy to play at Manchester United and if you saw that match, they played a 4-5-1 and came away with a good result.

"If you let them play, they have good players on the ball. "For us we need to be efficient and score one or two goals and then, of course, we are in with a chance."

Jol will have Simon Davies (back) and Andrew Johnson (groin) available while Dickson Etuhu will be assessed ahead of the match.

Fulham reject Blackburn bid for Johnson

Blackburn have made a bid for Fulham striker Andrew Johnson - but Press Association Sport understands the Cottagers consider the offer is too low for the former England player.

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The 30-year-old's contract expires at the end of the season and he has been linked with a move away from Craven Cottage during the January transfer window.

Fulham rejected an offer from near neighbours QPR for Johnson last week with Rovers now apparently looking to add Johnson to their forward line as they bid to move off the bottom of the Barclays Premier League.

Samba hoping to leave Blackburn

Christopher Samba has admitted he wants to quit Blackburn, saying: 'It's time for a change.'

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Rovers skipper Samba has been heavily linked with moves to Tottenham and QPR, who have both reportedly lodged bids in the region of £7million for the 27-year-old. French-born Congo defender Samba has been at Ewood Park for almost five years and insisted he had always put the club's interests before his own in that time.

But he suggested the Venky's regime had failed to take them forward, telling L'Equipe: "Lately, mentally, it has been difficult. I tried to maintain my level of performance but I sense that it is time for a change. The club doesn't evolve at all. I'm resigned."

He added: "I've always put the interests of the club before my own.

"I've invested a lot, always tried to lead by example, but things have not gone as I was told. I hope people will understand me."

Nouveau riche Ligue 1 club Paris Saint Germain have already poached coach Paul Clement from Blackburn to become Carlo Ancelotti's assistant and are now also being linked with Samba.

Insisting he was unaware of any offer from the capital club, Samba added: "In any case, it's flattering. The club has reached another level - it's not the PSG of a few years ago.

"There is Leonardo, Ancelotti... I'm sure they will bring in great players.

"We shall see if the interest is confirmed or not, but it would be good for me to return home.

"The most important thing is to find an ambitious club. I would love to experience something different."

Blackburn fans plan fresh protests

Organisers of protests against Blackburn's owners Venky's have called off their truce and have announced a 24-hour demonstration to take place outside Ewood Park from Friday.

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The fans' group had halted their protests on December 3 but say the club have not kept their promise to hold a meeting to discuss their concerns.

A statement from the fans' group said: "Despite organisers arranging no protest for the last seven matches the club has failed to deliver on the promises and pledges they made. This protest will be aimed at Venky's, the legal owners of Blackburn Rovers football club."

There will also be a protest march to Ewood Park ahead of the match against Fulham on Saturday.

Kean to listen to Hoilett offers

Blackburn boss Steve Kean has admitted the club will now have to consider any bids for in-demand winger Junior Hoilett, who is out of contract in the summer.

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The 21-year-old Canadian has stalled on several offers from Rovers and has attracted interest from Tottenham. Hoilett can now talk to other clubs about a lucrative free transfer in the summer and Kean admits that the player holds all the cards.

He said: "Any player does when it gets down to six months. If he would like to commit his future to the club we have always said from day one that we would like to get it tied up."

He added: "He has probably taken the opportunity to look elsewhere. I don't know where he is on it. If we can get to a point where he wants to sign then great.

"If not, if there is a bid that comes in then we would obviously have to consider that, and the fact that he hadn't signed. But no bids have come in."

Kean said that the club should have given Hoilett a longer contract than the two-year deal he was awarded in 2010 when Sam Allardyce was Rovers boss.

"A couple of years ago when we only signed him for two years we should have made that a longer contract," added Kean. "Everybody would say we should have pushed to make it longer because now when there's six months left it's tough for the club."

Kean said talks were still progressing with the representatives of striker Jason Roberts and defender Michel Salgado over "issues in their contracts".

A clause in both players' contracts means if they play a certain amount of games this season, they would be entitled to another year at the club.

It has led to neither being available for selection and Kean said Salgado had returned to speak to his agent about his future.