Roque returns to Rovers

Former Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz will return to the Ewood Park club on loan for the remainder of the Premier League season.

The Paraguayan striker joins from Manchester City and will bolster Steve Kean’s squad as the Rovers – currently 10th on the table – aim for a top-half finish.

He joined City from Blackburn for a fee of 17.5 million pounds in 2009 but scored just four goals in 24 appearances at the City of Manchester Stadium.

But despite his poor run at City, Santa Cruz netted 29 goals in 70 matches for Blackburn and Kean believes the signing is a great coup for the club.

“Roque had a fantastic time when he was first here and he showed his quality,” Kean said.

“Hopefully he’ll do that again until the end of the season. It’s massive from his point of view because he doesn’t have to settle in at a new club.”

“He’s coming back to a place that was special to him and I’m sure he’s going to deliver just as good or even better.”

Kean also revealed that Blackburn would speak to City about a permanent transfer at the end of the season.

“We’re trying to speak to Manchester City at the moment regarding an option about signing Roque at the end of the season, so we don’t know about that yet,” he said.

“It’s something we’ll ask for, but we don’t know if they’ll commit to it.”