SAM Allardyce believes Yildiray Basturk could prove Blackburn Rovers’ “ace up their sleeve”.

The Blackburn Rovers boss revealed the Turkish midfielder was progressing well as he continues his bid for full fitness after signing from German outfit Stuttgart last month - and he could feature for the first team in just over a fortnight.

Allardyce said: "We have got Basturk, who I feel is our ace up the sleeve, but we will leave that type of signing at that.

“We will give him the tools and support and then he will show the desire and determination that will determine whether he is able to produce in the Premier League.

“I am looking forward to him being ready and if he can produce what he once could we will have a very clever player on our hands and maybe the key to us scoring more goals.