STEVE Kean believes Junior Hoilett and Yakubu are the perfect Premier League attacking combination – as he looks to develop their partnership beyond this season.

Hoilett has responded to being played in a more advanced role, alongside prolific striker Yakubu, by scoring three goals in his last two games to help move Rovers to the brink of Premier League safety.

Yakubu fired his 15th goal of the campaign in Tuesday night’s 2-0 win at home to Sunderland with the duo now scoring more 20 between them.

“Yakubu and Junior Hoilett are causing all sorts of problems,” said Kean.

“I think Junior is excited about playing the position he is playing in at the moment.

“He likes playing wide, especially on the left wing when he cut in on his right foot.

“Everyone has seen though when he is playing as a striker, or just off, he has got good feet, he has got movement, he can provide service for Yak and he can score himself.

“I think we have to play that partnership because they are scoring goals and playing each other in.

“We have now got back-to-back clean sheets and we look back on other games where we have deserved a clean sheet but never got one. There are only five teams in the league who have scored more goals but when you put that together with the clean sheets, you quickly climb the table.”

Hoilett’s Rovers future remains uncertain with his Ewood Park contract due to expire this summer.

Talks have stalled between the player and the club, with both focusing on the scrap for survival, with the several top clubs from home and abroad waiting to bag a bargain.

Kean said: “I don’t think we can prevent teams coming in for him. If someone is under contract then the better he players week on week there will be more teams.

“We hope we can get ourselves in a position of safety, we can make him an offer, we want him here. He is playing out of his skin.

“Will he play every week if he goes elsewhere? I don’t know.”

Meanwhile Rovers midfielder Josh Morris has joined League One Yeovil Town on loan until the end of the season, while Zac Aley has moved to Macclesfield on loan.