JUNIOR Hoilett has been hailed as ‘one of the best wingers in the Premier League’ with Blackburn Rovers set to step up their attempts to secure his long term Ewood Park future.

The Canadian starlet is rapidly becoming one of the Premier League’s hottest young properties, after an explosive end to last season, and Rovers are desperate to make sure he continues in East Lancashire.

The 21-year-old’s Rovers deal expires next summer and his dad, also his agent, is set to fly to England in early July to start talks with Steve Kean about a contract extension.

Several top flight clubs are understood to be tracking his situation with interest but Rovers are ready to make Hoilett a lucrative offer to keep him at the club.

The winger scored five goals from 17 starts last season as, after a frustrating start to the campaign, he flourished under the management of Kean.

Hoilett has been at Ewood since the age of 12 and, having battled to secure his work permit in the first place, his team mates are now hoping he remains a Rover.

Skipper Chris Samba said: “Junior Hoilett is a big player for Blackburn Rovers.

"He is a fantastic player and I have seen that a long time ago.

"When you see a player like that, even when he is young, we could see straight away this is going to be a big player.

“The club really have to tie him up because he will be a big player.

"He is a match winner. He will just go past two players and score.

"He has such quality. One on one he is a nightmare to defend against.

“We are in a country where you love wingers in this style and at this moment I think he is one of the best position in the league.

I am glad he is wIth us and not against us.”

Midfielder David Dunn, added: “When he is on song he is a delight to watch and that is why people pay money to come and watch football, people like Junior.

“It is great to see him as a young lad coming through.

"It is great to see him blossoming. As the older heads, we try our best to keep their feet on the ground but they are running away a little bit at the minute.”

Rovers have already seen Hoilett’s fellow academy product Phil Jones leave the club this summer, in a £16.5million move to Manchester United.

But they have stressed their determination to ensure none of their other stars go the same way.

Midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen, said: “Junior has been fantastic.

"It has obviously been his breakthrough, no doubt about that.

“He has got fantastic ability, he has been a little bit unlucky with a few hamstring strains but when he has been fit he has had a massive impact and Martin Olsson has done really well too.

“It’s good to see. He has got a great, great future. Of course we always want good players on our side.

"If he keeps his head down and works hard, and wants to develop himself as a player, he is going to be very, very good.”