Source: Team_Talk
Kean happy with Formica form
Steve Kean hopes Mauro Formica can make an impact for Blackburn this season after seeing him grab the first goal in their 3-0 win over Kitchee.[LNB] Formica headed home Brett Emerton's cross after 34 minutes at Hong Kong Stadium before second-half efforts from David Dunn and Nick Blackburn sealed third place in the Barclays Asia Trophy.[LNB]"When he first came to the club it was difficult because he had to change not only to the method of training at the club but also the intensity of the league," said Kean.[LNB]"Even Michel Salgado's been quoted in the past that to change from a foreign league to the intensity of the Premier League is very, very tough, it even took Michel three or four months.[LNB]"For Mauro and Ruben Rochina, I think they've adjusted to the intensity, they're working really well and it's like getting two new players because they never featured too much in the first-team last year.[LNB]"They're certainly showing signs they're well up to speed and that can only be good for everybody."[LNB]Dunn echoed Kean's assessment of Formica, adding that he is hopeful the club's youth policy can pay dividends this season.[LNB]"Mauro, he came in last year and by his own standard was a little bit off the pace but he's come back in this year and he looks a totally different player," he said.[LNB]"He's obviously worked very hard on his fitness over the summer, which is a credit to him.[LNB]"Nick Blackburn is another young player that's coming through, we're very lucky at the club to have a good crop of young players coming through. Unfortunately Phil Jones left but he's one of many so hopefully they can step up to the plate."[LNB]Kean was satisfied with his side's display against the Hong Kong outfit after being edged out by Aston Villa on Wednesday and feels the Barclays Asia Trophy experience has been a positive one.[LNB]"We're happy with the performance, especially in the second half," he said.[LNB]"It was difficult conditions in the first-half and I felt as though we never really penetrated enough behind the full-backs. We tried to concentrate on switching play, playing a bit more with one or two touches rather than three or four touches and I thought the lads did that really well in the second-half and I think we thoroughly deserved our win.[LNB]"The tour's been excellent from our point of view, not only do you get the heat to deal with but you get the intensity of the games, one against Villa and tonight was difficult as well.[LNB]"It's a well-organised tournament, we're delighted to be here. The lads have put in a hell of a lot of work, it's not just preparing for the games, we've done sessions in the gym the mornings of games, we were on the grass at the stadium last night until 10 o'clock."
