STEVE Kean has hailed Steven Nzonzi’s progress at Blackburn Rovers as “sensational” after insisting recent criticism of the midfielder has been “very harsh”.

Rovers’ 23-year-old Frenchman was axed from Steve Kean’s line-up for the first time this season, for the 2-0 win over Norwich, after taking flak from some quarters for several below par performances.

Kean has already laughed off rumours of an alleged training ground bust up between him and Nzonzi last week and is adamant the former Amiens man can still play a key role in Rovers’ relegation scrap.

The Rovers boss said: “In some quarters there has been some sort of criticism for Steve, which I think is really, really harsh.

With the exception of him being injured for two games or ill, he has played every single game “We feel as though he is an improving player. The level he is at now, from where he was when he came to the club is nothing short of sensational.

“It is no surprise he is linked with massive clubs all over the world because we feel as though he has been top notch.”

Nzonzi has been almost an ever present this campaign, having only missed a handful of league games due to suspension and injury.

He had to settle for a place on the substitutes bench on Saturday though, with Kean pairing Jason Lowe and David Dunn together in the centre, as Rovers beat the Canaries to gain a Premier League lifeline.

Kean’s men travel to White Hart Lane on Sunday though still in the relegation mire with the Rovers boss facing a selection dilemma.

“I have had a chat with Steven,” said Kean. “It is very difficult physically and mentally to stay at a level where you don’t go through bad spells.

“Could the amount of games have caught up with him because we couldn’t rotate the squad that much, possibly? Then that can be perceived as not doing such and such. I would not edify that comment though.

“He has been excellent and it has just been tough we could not have rested him a little more. I speak to everyone every day. I don’t just walk from my office to the training field and back. I speak to everyone. I have spoken with Steven about a number of different things as I have everyone else.

“We felt it was the right time to bring him out, after his levels have dropped in the stats, to freshen him up for the last few games. Of course he is still very important to what we are trying to do.”

Meanwhile Rovers are hopeful Gael Givet will recover from a dead leg in time for the weekend’s crucial trip to Tottenham.