BLACKBURN Rovers boss Sam Allardyce insists there was no panic to bring an extra striker to Ewood Park – after a move for Lens striker Aruna Dindane broke down at the 11th hour.

Rovers were set to sign the Ivory Coast international on loan until the end of the season but were unable to agree terms with Lens over a clause regarding a potential permanent summer switch – with the striker returning to Portsmouth on loan.

The Ewood Park outfit were believed to have been unwilling to agree to a deal that would have tied them down to his permanent move this summer, if certain criteria had been met, while Lens would not allow the player to join on loan without certain conditions.

Talks went on until the close of yesterday’s 5pm transfer window but, with other target Benjani also ruled out, Allardyce was content to stick with what he has got for the remainder of the season.

He said: “You never want to be in a panic situation because it is then you make the worst selections and the worst choices. We were not in a panic.

“I am very comfortable with the squad, we are improving, we have put ourselves in a reasonable position in the league but we have to go further than that and continue to pick the points up.

“If no other player came our way, I was very content with the squad we have got.”

Allardyce was in the market for a striker after allowing Benni McCarthy to move to West Ham United for in the region of £2million, but had always insisted there was no need for any rushed replacement..

It was the Rovers boss who agreed to allow McCarthy move to Upton Park, as he finally ran out of patience with South African’s desire to quit Ewood Park, with his board backing him if he had decided to hold onto him until a replacement had been lined up.

With Nikola Kalinic, Jason Roberts and Franco Di Santo all capable of leading the line, and the likes of Martin Olsson, David Dunn, Junior Hoilett and El-Hadji Diouf able to play the supporting roles in his preferred 4-5-1 formation, Allardyce believes he has more than enough for the rest of the campaign.

Allardyce did though bring Turkish international Yildiray Basturk to the club last week, as well as Algerian youngster Amine Linganzi, with the former expected to be ready for first team action in less than a fortnight.

Rovers meanwhile are hopeful David Dunn and Vince Grella will be fit in time for the weekend’s trip to Stoke City to provide him with a selection dilemma for the Premier League run-in.

Meanwhile midfielder Keith Treacy has joined Championship Preston for an undisclosed fee, with young goalkeeper Frank Fielding joining League Two Rochdale on loan until the rest of the season.