Source: Team_Talk
Rovers boss bullish over Nelsen
lackburn boss Steve Kean is confident Ryan Nelsen will be fit for the start of the season as he continues his comeback from knee surgery.[LNB] Nelsen missed Rovers' successful battle against relegation at the end of last term after going under the knife.[LNB]However, Kean is confident the New Zealand international will be ready to face Wolves on August 13, a major boost for the Blackburn boss given he is yet to replace Phil Jones, who left for Manchester United this summer.[LNB]"Unfortunately we lost Ryan towards the end of last season, he had quite a major operation on his knee. He's taking part in some of the sessions but talking to our medical team, they're confident he'll be fit for the start of the season which is tremendous," said Kean, whose side take on Kitchee in the Barclays Asia Trophy on Saturday night.[LNB]"We've got a senior group that's very important to us and I'm confident he'll be fit for the start of the season."[LNB]Following the takeover by Venky's, it was mooted Blackburn would become part of the Premier League's big-spending elite but Kean revealed that was never the case.[LNB]"Different teams have got different models," he said.[LNB]"Manchester City want to spend, they want to achieve and go very quickly. We're going to do it slightly differently. We've got the senior players like Michel Salgado, Paul Robinson, Ryan Nelsen, we've got a senior group and then we're going to continue to improve the young players. It's each to their own."[LNB]Salgado, meanwhile, rejected comparisons between City and his former club Real Madrid.[LNB]"I don't think it is the same," he said.[LNB]"They have a programme and are trying to win trophies as quickly as possible because now they have the money but the history of Real Madrid is different so expectations are different.[LNB]"Real Madrid have a big past, they were the best team in the world last century. If you ask a player about signing for Real Madrid or Man City, I think it is a different question.[LNB]"You are signing for maybe the best club in the world in terms of history or signing for maybe the most powerful club now they have so much money. To be honest, I'd like to be in that situation to have the money to be in the mix of the top teams in Europe."[LNB]Kean is also set to complete his first signing of the summer with a deal for Partizan Belgrade midfielder Radosav Petrovic almost done.[LNB]A work permit is the only obstacle to the 22-year-old Serbian being unveiled a Rovers player as Kean looks to reinforce his squad.[LNB]"We're very close," said Kean.[LNB]"We've agreed a fee, we've agreed personal terms and now we're just subject to a work permit and Petrovic will become a Blackburn player.[LNB]"He's a fantastic player, I've seen him for a number of years. Unfortunately for us we lost Jermaine Jones back to Schalke and we've been looking to strengthen in that area."[LNB]One player who could be set to leave Ewood Park is Nikola Kalinic with the striker likely to join Ukrainian side Dnipro.[LNB]"That's been quite complicated," added Kean.[LNB]"We believe a bid has been accepted from the Ukrainian club that has been interested in Niko and if that goes through, then we wish him all the best. I think we're very close to agreeing a deal and I think he'll move on."[LNB]
