BLACKBURN Rovers skipper Chris Samba believes Yakubu can hit 20 goals for the club this season – but admits they now need to stop conceding at the other end.

Yakubu’s four-goal salvo fired Rovers to a crucial 4-2 win at home to Swansea City on Saturday, taking his season tally to 10, and Samba has backed him to continue his exploits in front of goal.

Only Roque Santa Cruz and Benni McCarthy have reached the magic 20 mark for Rovers over the past decade but Samba knows they have to tighten up defensively to make the most of Yakubu’s prolifics.

Rovers have conceded 32 goals in just 14 Premier League games this season, the second worst defensive record in the division, and Samba is desperate to see that change, starting with Sunday’s trip to Sunderland.

Samba said: “What Yakubu did for us is no surprise to any of us at all. We know if you give the ball to the Yak he is going to produce something on the right spot for you all the time. It is no surprise at all he got four and we are very happy for him.

“I have no doubt he can reach 20 easy this season, no problems. We just have to make sure every time he scores we keep the back door shut and win games that way.

“We know what Yakubu is. He is always happy and enjoys his football. When he doesn’t get the ball in training he is not happy. On Saturday he scored four goals and he never scored in training all week so we have to stop him in training all the time.

“My personal point of view is the first goal was very disappointing because we could do better. But respect to them. We are disappointed at the minute because we feel every time we make a mistake at the minute we are being punished.

“But it is our fault as well. We must not give teams any sniff because this is the Premier League,, it is difficult and we need to improve on that and be more resilient.”

Having spent a spell on the sidelines through injury, Samba returned to the heart of the defence for Saturday’s 4-2 win over Swansea.

The victory lifted Rovers off the bottom of the table and he is now eyeing more of the same to take them out of the relegation zone.

“It was really important to go back to winning ways,” the Rovers skipper told Rovers Player. “It has been a long time but it was a great feeling.

“It is important for me to be back and to try and help the lads and climb the table. I hope Saturday is a new start and we can catch up. This is a very important time and we must get the points on the board and get out of the zone we don’t want to be in.

“It puts a smile on everyones face when you win and it is important every day you have a smile on your face. We have to keep on trying to win so everyone can be happy, fans as well.”