BLACKBURN Rovers have moved quickly to open contract talks with Junior Hoilett after the Canadian’s impressive start to life in the first team at Ewood Park.

The 19-year-old has made only three competitive appearances for Rovers since finally being granted a work permit in the summer but boss Sam Allardyce has already seen enough to feel confident that he could have a long-term future at Ewood Park.

Hoilett, who can play up front or on either flank, has been with Rovers since the age of 13 and is now in the final year of his contract at the club.

Rovers are keen to see the Ottawa-born speedster tied down to an extended deal and chairman John Williams confirmed: “Some preliminary discussions have already taken place. It’s a work in progress.”

Rovers loaned Hoilett out to German lower league clubs Paderborn and St Pauli in each of the last two seasons but could not field him in their own first team until they had secured a work permit, which was eventually granted on appeal in July.

He featured during the club’s pre-season campaign before making his debut as a substitute in Rovers’ defeat to Manchester City on the opening day of the season.

Then came his first start and first goal, in the Carling Cup win at Gillingham, before he almost broke the deadlock as a sub against West Ham two-and-a-half weeks ago - after which team-mate David Dunn compared 5ft 8in Hoilett to the similarly diminutive yet talented England striker Jermain Defoe.

Despite hailing from Canada, Hoilett’s future status at Rovers will not be affected by new Premier League rules governing overseas players.

Hoilett will be classed as an under 21 player in both 2010/11 and 2011/12, and will then be categorised as a ‘home-grown’ player because he has come through the Rovers youth system.

The new regulations, due to be introduced in 2010/11, mean clubs can only register 25 senior players during a season - eight of which must have been registered with an English club for at least three years between the ages of 16 and 21.

Arsneal and Liverpool have already been critical of the rules but Rovers are in favour of the changes.

The club currently have 27 senior players - 11 of whom are ‘home-grown’ - but not all of them have contracts for next season at this stage and squads can also be cut by loaning players out.

Williams said: “We feel the rules are a good addition.

“Undoubtedly it will be something we will have to consider as we make plans going forward and it will mean we have to balance our squad.

“But we think it is the right thing to do for football in general.”

Zurab Khizanishvili, who has two years left on his Rovers deal, remains a target for a number of Championship clubs interested in taking the Georgian defender on loan.

It is understood, however, that West Bromwich Albion are not among the chasers despite reports to the contrary.

Middlesbrough’s interest is now expected to be over following their signing of Preston centre back Sean St Ledger.

Rovers are yet to hear from Chelsea about whether the Blues’ transfer embargo will definitely mean the recall of loan striker Franco Di Santo in January.

* Wolves defender Matt Hill says Rovers striker Jason Roberts elbowed him during Saturday’s Premier League clash at Ewood Park.

“I definitely copped an elbow but you have to take it on the chin – or rather the cheekbone,” said the Wolves man.

“Me and Jason had a good tussle and I’ve got nothing against him.

“If that had been seen, it would have been a red card, but that didn’t happen and I’m not going to say anything else.”