Appleton backing Karim to play part in play-off push (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Appleton backing Karim to play part in play-off push
7:43am Friday 15th February 2013 in Sport
By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter
MICHAEL Appleton has tipped Blackburn Rovers’ imminent loan signing Karim Rekik to be a future Premier League star – but believes he can have an immediate impact on Rovers’ own top flight ambitions.
The 18-year-old versatile left-sided defender is expected to sign at Rovers from Manchester City on a 93-day loan today, with boss Appleton hopeful of adding another signing with significant Championship experience in the next 24 hours.
Appleton also admitted former Rover and Spurs midfielder David Bentley remains on a list of targets, having all but-given up on West Brom’s Jerome Thomas, as he looks to bring in two wingers after the signing of Rekik.
Rekik, a Dutch youth international, is expected to be in Rovers’ squad for tomorrow’s FA Cup fifth round tie at Arsenal and Appleton expects him to be pushing hard for a regular starting place Appleton said: “He played for me in the Championship last season at Portsmouth. Although he is a boy in terms of age, he is physically a man. He is built like a brick out house.
“He is a big lad with a lot of quality. I am sure he is going to be in the Premier League for Manchester City for years.
“I have no doubt about that and I know Manchester City haven’t.
“At the present time hopefully he will be very good for Blackburn Rovers in the short term. Without a shadow of a doubt he will be chomping at the bit to ensure he is in the starting XI.
“The only thing from his point of view is we have a back four who are playing very, very well. We have to make sure we have players in place and he is one who will expect to play.
“He has to work his way in initially but he is a good addition.”
Since being appointed as Rovers boss in January, Appleton has allowed a number of players leave the club as he looks to put his stamp on things.
He is hopeful Rekik will be joined by another loan signing later today, with the likes of Bentley still on his wish-list over the next few weeks.
He said: “I certainly hope to have another one done by this evening.
“I doubt he will be involved on Saturday. But I am 90 per cent sure that will be done.
David (Bentley) is a wide player and we have been talking about wide players. He is definitely on the list and in an ideal world I would like to bring two wide players in.
“So whether he is one of the two lets see what happens. He has a great history with the club and a lot of quality.
“I think the only time I will get the feeling this is my squad is in the summer though. The squad I walked into, I recognised the balance was not right.
“I wanted to try and address that as soon as I could but you don’t get the opportunity to do that to a full extent until you have the summer.”
Defender Todd Kane, who joined Rovers prior to Appleton’s arrival, has returned to his parent club Chelsea.
ABOVE: Arsene Wenger speaks ahead of tomorrow's FA Cup fifth round match
Comments(19)
reiko082
says...
8:10am Fri 15 Feb 13
Only players who want to play for the shirt, eh.
Right, okay.
rovers india
says...
8:23am Fri 15 Feb 13
owd nick
says...
8:34am Fri 15 Feb 13
reiko082 wrote:Yawn, I thought all the knobheads had scuttled away.
David Bentley, eh.
Only players who want to play for the shirt, eh.
Right, okay.
I have questioned going for Bentley but only because he must lack match fitness.
Bentley did a great job for us in the past and no-one can blame him for moving on, that's what professional players do when they are told they are surplus to requirements or get an offer they can't refuse.
He wore the shirt with pride.
Get over it.
Harwoodstblue
says...
8:57am Fri 15 Feb 13
rovers india wrote:I just hope he's fit. If it takes two months to get match fit the season will almost be over.
DAVID WILL BE A GOOD SIGNING
Road Runner Road Runner
says...
9:27am Fri 15 Feb 13
reiko082 wrote:Sounds a quality addition the boy Rekik plus Appleton knows exactly what he his getting.
David Bentley, eh.
Only players who want to play for the shirt, eh.
Right, okay.
So far as the Bentley rumor goes let us hope this happens would rather have a proven player than one who isn't esp in the position that our team is crying out for.
Bentley returned to the club he supported as a boy, and in that position myself I would have done exactly the same.
Mitigating factors in Bentleys departure came at the time when a disintegration was becoming apparent under Hughes due to the sniveling lack of ambition with the Walkers.
The last game of the season down at relegated Birmingham which we lost 3 - 1, and had we won that day would have taken us into the Europa League. I watched that game and realized the magic had disappeared with something afoot with the beloved ? Our team that day had the quality to have **** that game, but limped through with a tepid display. Gutted.
The rest is history as they say !
If Bentley is available, and let us consider his genuine remorse here with the way things turned out, it is a no brainer, in my opinion.
I would love to see him pull that B&W shirt on again giving us some truly dazzling displays.
He his a talent and would be a massive coup for Mr. Appleton also showing the owners what is possible with the right players on board.
Get it done.
Good enough.
On we go.
Arte et labore
Adil_321
says...
9:34am Fri 15 Feb 13
Road Runner Road Runner
says...
9:52am Fri 15 Feb 13
Adil_321 wrote:Excellent mate.
Buzzing for tomorrow Match! My first game with rovers fan at Emirates! cannot wait!! Come on MA Barmy Army!! Supporting them all the way from London!! (Y)
Sold out the 1400 allocation so let us hear you roar the boys on.
Enjoy.
Arte et labore
Two Hats
says...
10:27am Fri 15 Feb 13
Road Runner Road Runner wrote:COYB
Adil_321 wrote:Excellent mate.
Buzzing for tomorrow Match! My first game with rovers fan at Emirates! cannot wait!! Come on MA Barmy Army!! Supporting them all the way from London!! (Y)
Sold out the 1400 allocation so let us hear you roar the boys on.
Enjoy.
Arte et labore
Adil_321
says...
10:38am Fri 15 Feb 13
Mytimeto
says...
10:38am Fri 15 Feb 13
As their enthusiasm will make the older more established players step up more I think.
Leon Best really will be the biggest help when back.
Navy-Rover
says...
11:14am Fri 15 Feb 13
COYB - Stick it to em!
leonm987
says...
11:27am Fri 15 Feb 13
uber blue and white
says...
12:09pm Fri 15 Feb 13
earwego
says...
12:17pm Fri 15 Feb 13
uber blue and white wrote:Todd back at Chelski, loan finished. Rekik signed on loan in time for match with Arsenal
what happened to todd kane has his loan run out or what????? he seemed to be a top prospect for BRFC
xsblue
says...
12:54pm Fri 15 Feb 13
merlinrabbit
says...
2:17pm Fri 15 Feb 13
keanoutofrovers
says...
2:42pm Fri 15 Feb 13
uber blue and white wrote:I assume you never saw him play. Nowhere near ready for the first team. Rekik will hopefully play at left back and allow Martin to push forward. Could be a useful signing.
what happened to todd kane has his loan run out or what????? he seemed to be a top prospect for BRFC
ChrisDeBerg
says...
3:41pm Fri 15 Feb 13
keanoutofrovers wrote:His loan deal was only for a month due to the Henley injury, MA came in after the loan and decided Orr would be the better player at the moment for RB, Henley possibly coming back from injury shortly, we don't really need another RB for cover, we need to reduce a scary wage bill, pretty much no place at Blackburn for him.
uber blue and white wrote:I assume you never saw him play. Nowhere near ready for the first team. Rekik will hopefully play at left back and allow Martin to push forward. Could be a useful signing.
what happened to todd kane has his loan run out or what????? he seemed to be a top prospect for BRFC
RTID
Lancs - pensioner says...
7:53am Fri 15 Feb 13
Get Bentley in and hope he is fit and things are looking up.