STEVE Kean has tipped Jermaine Jones to make a major Premier League impact after admitting the American international is set to become his second January signing.

The Schalke midfielder watched Blackburn Rovers’ 2-0 defeat to Chelsea from the stands on Saturday and is expected to finalise a loan move until the end of the season within the next 48 hours.

Boss Kean is currently without five senior midfielders through injury and international commitments but is convinced Jones’ arrival will help lighten the load.

David Dunn became Rovers’ latest injury concern after limping out of Saturday’s defeat midway through the first half, to hand Jason Lowe his Premier League debut, although he should be available for next weekend’s visit of West Brom.

Jones was at Rovers’ Brockhall training base on Friday and will complete his move early this week, with both Rovers and Schalke open to making it permanent in the summer.

The 29-year-old American international, who has previously represented Germany, has grown a reputation as a tough tackling, energetic midfielder and Kean can’t wait to unleash him on the Premier League.

He said: “We have got paperwork to go through Monday or Tuesday and if we can do that he would be a fantastic signing for us.

“Anybody who knows him as a player knows he is a natural ball winner, he is a very good passer, he has a very good engine and can go box-to-box.

“He is a genuine all round midfield player.”