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3 Players United Will Have To Be Wary Of – Blackburn Rovers

Manchester United face Blackburn Rovers on New Year’s at Old Trafford. So with that in mind it’s worth taking a look at these three players who we should be wary of going into the game:

Junior Hoilett

There are only ever been 9 Canadian footballers to play in the Premier League with two of those Hoillet and Simeon Jackson featuring in the league this season. Whilst the later is not a first choice for Norwich, the former appears to be a regular for Blackburn.

After breaking into the starting eleven under Sam Allardyce upon his return from playing in the German second division in 2009, Hoillet’s development has continued under Steve Kean and despite being involved in a struggling side this season the winger has impressed.

Should Hoilett suffer relegation this season, there would be a good chance that he would remain in the top-flight given his ability. He will be excited to go up against his old Ewood Park team-mate in Phil Jones this weekend and will be Kean’s main weapon on the break.

Christopher Samba

It would be fair to say that there are not too many players across Europe who are as tough and as strong as Samba, who has been a pillar at the back for Blackburn since joining them as an unknown in 2007 from German side Hertha Berlin.

Samba has been a rock for Blackburn and over the last five and a half seasons has developed into one of the best defenders in the country who despite being involved in a struggling side has kept his good form and high standards up.

With his defensive partner Ryan Nelsen on the sidelines with a long-term knee injury, Samba has led Blackburn this season admirably. He scored in last year’s fixture at Old Trafford and will put his body on the line to stop his team suffering embarrassment this time round.

Yakubu

Blackburn fans who have questioned Kean’s judgement since taking charge at Ewood Park last year should remember that it was their manager whose instinct told him to bring the injury-plagued Nigerian forward Yakubu to their club.

After scoring 11 goals on loan at Leicester City under Sven-Goran Erikson last season, Yakubu showed that his injury problems were past him and that fitness-wise at least he could still put the ball in the back of the net on a consistent basis.

There were doubts about whether the hitman nicknamed ‘The Yak’ could be fed this season and score goals. Football’s a funny game though and after scoring 10 goals in 12 league appearances this season Yakubu has shown he has still ‘got it’ as a top-flight goalscorer.

By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87

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