Sam Allardyce is hoping Yildiray Basturk will be a successful signing at Blackburn Rovers as his similar arrivals at previous club Bolton. Rovers boss Allardyce was renowned at Wanderers for signing players who appeared past their best, only to revitalise their careers under his leadership.

Basturk, who has joined Rovers from Stuttgart on a six-month deal through to the end of the season, fits the Allardyce mould of old as he is 31 and with his best days seemingly behind him.

"If he can reproduce the form he has shown in Germany, then we're looking forward to him playing here.

"The lad is committed. He wants to play in the Premier League, and we're going to give him the chance.

"I hope he is one of those gems I used to find at the old club down the road (Bolton) because he certainly has the quality and ability.

"What we've got is someone who has been cast off at the club he was at, and he wants to test his ability in the Premier League.

"I've had many of those so-called mercenaries in the past like Jay-Jay, Djorkaeff, Hierro, Campo, N'Gotty, Stelios, and they've all been outstandingly good players in the Premier League.

"I hope this lad will do the same. He certainly has the pedigree anyway."