´Safe´ Kean plans to be positive

Blackburn boss Steve Kean says his side will go into Sunday’s crunch relegation clash with Wolves determined to take the initiative.

Blackburn are well placed in the relegation battle, but know that a defeat and other results going their way could see them join West Ham in the Championship.

But Kean insists he is not worried heading into the game as his side’s form – they are on a three-game unbeaten run but have won just once in 13 – gives him reason to be confident.

“Wolves have been quite animated – it’s ‘Beat Blackburn Weekend’, it’s ‘Survival Sunday’ down there – but we want to view it as ‘Success Sunday’ because we are in good form,” he said.

“It’s not a case of us fearing going to Wolves, we are going into the game really looking forward to it and to have a really good ding-dong.”

“We have been positive against City, United and West Ham and we are not going to sit back and play into their hands, and let them batter us with balls into the box.”

And Kean says he has been assured of his future by the club’s Indian owners despite speculation he would be sacked at the end of the current campaign.

Kean was a surprising choice to take over from Sam Allardyce, but went to India earlier in the week to meet representatives of Venky’s – and he is adamant that his future was not even up for discussion.

“We never spoke about that (relegation) at all, we spoke about me being charge of the club for the remainder of my contract and beyond,” Kean said.

“We spoke about the budget, what we’ll be looking to do with the scouting team, what type of players we will be looking to bring in.”

“The most important thing was talking about the budget and I know now that that’s very healthy, it’s going to be a fantastic budget we’ve got to work with next year.”

“What that will definitely mean is attracting good and established players, extension of contracts for people coming to the end of their contracts – Junior Hoilett being one of them – and having a budget to go and compete with teams in the top 10.”

“We didn’t mention any specific players but we mentioned positions and the wage bill we will need to go and get these players.”

Chris Samba, Hoilett and Jermaine Jones have all declared themselves fit for the game, giving Kean a full squad to choose from.