DAVID Dunn insists he has never doubted Nikola Kalinic will prove a Premier League hit as he tips Blackburn Rovers’ Croatian striker to continue silencing his early critics.

Kalinic’s slow start to life in East Lancashire led some to write him off as a ‘£6m flop’ but recent weeks have shown the absurdity of all those premature doubters – with Dunn insisting his potential was always obvious.

The 22-year-old former Hadjuk Split man has been eased into Premier League life, making just four league starts this season, but his winning goal against Wigan and recent displays has shown plenty of promise for the future.

Rovers’ failure to land another striker before Monday’s close of the transfer window will invariably up the expectation levels around Kalinic, with Jason Roberts and Franco Di Santo the only other two senior strikers left to challenge his position.

A move for Portsmouth loanee Aruna Dindane failed to materialise with Rovers unable to agree terms with his parent clubs Lens, while Manchester City’s Benjani’s wage demands are believed to have put them off the chase for him.

Dunn though is still eyeing a bright end to the season and, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Stoke City, believes Kalinic’s improvement will only continue.

He said: “It was great to see Niko score his first league goal the other day.

"He has been on fire in the cups and as soon as he came to the club I was confident he would be worth the money.

“I used to say to everyone ‘he will come good in a couple of months’ and I am glad that has come true. I just hope it can carry on and I am sure it can.

“He is only a young lad and sometimes you need to give them a little time to settle in off the pitch before throwing them in.

"Niko was given time and, while some people were questioning him, we all knew he had talent and would come good.

“You see his confidence has been growing and, with help and support, that will continue and I am sure he will get better and better.”

Rovers may have failed to land a deadline striker but, as well as the arrival of midfielders Amine Linganzi and Yildiray Basturk, Dunn himself put pen to paper on a contract extension to make for a satisfactory January transfer window.

As revealed last week, Dunn admits he could have looked elsewhere in a bid to ‘make a quick buck’ but is adamant staying at his boyhood club was the right move - both personally and professionally.

“I am very happy to sign the extension,” he said. “The reason I signed for this club was because it is a really good club here.

"Although the transfer fees aren’t like they were when Jack was around, there are a lot worse places to be than this club.

“We can now start looking up the table for the first time.

"Being on a free in the summer I could probably have cashed in a little bit but this is the place where I play my best football.

"This is where I wanted to be, I am settled here and all my family and friends are here, my kids go to school here - it was the right thing to do.

“Not only that but I feel we can kick on a little bit as well.

"Seeing the youth team beat Manchester United was a fantastic result.

"You look at players like Martin Olsson and Junior Hoilett coming through and they have done great in the last couple of weeks.

"We have a lot of other good young players coming through and I am sure if given the chance they will surprise a few.”