January signings Mauro Formica and Ruben Rochina close to Blackburn Rovers debuts

Mauro Formica festeja su anotación – Newell’s Old Boys

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Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean says that January signings Mauro Formica and Ruben Rochina could be handed their debuts in the next few weeks.

Much was made of Rovers’ transfer budget and their capture of former striker Roque Santa Cruz, while the loan signing of Jermaine Jones was given plenty of media attention.

The loan duo have made several first team appearances, but two of Kean’s lower profile January signings are yet to feature for the Rovers’ first team.

Rovers signed 22-year-old playmaker Formica, who Kean compared to “a young Gabriel Batistuta” at the time, from Argentinian side Newell’s Old Boys and snapped up 19-year-old Rochina from Barcelona.

And although both are viewed as extremely talented technical footballers, Kean has been slow to introduce them to the physical nature and high tempo of the Premier League.

Speaking to the the club’s official website, the Scot said: “They have settled well and they had a good performance in the reserves against Everton.

“This is almost like the end phase of a pre-season programme they have been on, six weeks of building up their intensity.

“We have really pushed them hard. It’s about preparing them for a different type of football.”