BLACKBURN Rovers have signed Canada international striker Simeon Jackson on a deal until the end of the season.

The well-travelled Jackson has been on trial at Rovers since leaving League One outfit Barnsley earlier this month.

And Paul Lambert has given the 28-year-old, who he worked with when he was in charge of Norwich City, the chance to win a longer contract.

In the short term Jackson will provide cover and competition for Jordan Rhodes, Tom Lawrence and Chris Brown after injuries ruled out Fode Koita and Nathan Delfouneso.

But Rovers boss Lambert is still attempting to sign another forward with the club hopeful a deal can be done for Sunderland’s Danny Graham.

 


Jackson moved to England at 15 and forged a reputation as a prolific goalscorer with Rushden & Diamonds and Gillingham, for whom he scored the winner in the 2009 League Two play-off final.

He was signed for £600,000 by then Norwich boss Lambert in the summer of 2010 and, across three seasons at Carrow Road, he scored 21 goals in 85 appearances.

Since then Jackson has had spells at Eintracht Braunschweig in Germany, Millwall, for whom he scored against Rovers from the spot in March 2014, Coventry City and most recently Barnsley.

He told Rovers Player HD: “It feels great to be here.

“It has been a good two weeks coming in and getting a feel for the club, so I’m delighted to finally put pen to paper now.

“Everyone has been very welcoming, it is a warm club and I’m just delighted to be here and be able to play a part of what the gaffer is doing here.

“I’m very hungry to do well. I’ve had a few ups and downs in the last few years, so I’m definitely looking forward to this opportunity.

“It is a great club, a great set of lads and a great manager. I think the timing has worked out well, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

Lambert said: “We needed him because of the injuries.

“It is a short-term thing for him and he knows that. It is up to him to prove to myself and this club that he can do it, which I think he can.

“He’s got the opportunity to prove himself that he can get a longer term contract so it is entirely in his own hands, but he is hungry enough to do it.

“He did great for us at Norwich and he scored a lot of big, big goals for us as well. He’s small in stature but he knows where the goal is.

“He offers us something different, he’s a different type to Jordan and Browny and people like that. So he’s a different type of player and he’s got an eye for goal.

“He’s been training with us for a fortnight to get himself going again, it is a big thing for him because at 28 years of age he should be hitting his prime and he’s got to be hungry enough to do it and hopefully he’ll make a good contribution.

“I’m still looking to bring in another striker as well.”

Midfielder John O’Sullivan, meanwhile, has joined Bury on a 28-day loan after his spell at their League One rivals Rochdale came to an end.