Blackburn boss Steve Kean has not given up hope that Junior Hoilett will sign a new contract at Ewood Park.

Hoilett’s current deal with Rovers runs out this summer and Kean admitted in January that the club would have to consider approaches for the Canadian winger, with Tottenham being linked with a move at the time.

No transfer materialised during that window, but several other outfits from around Europe have reportedly joined the race to sign Hoilett for next term.

He is a Blackburn player for now, though, setting up Steven Nzonzi to score one goal and seeing his shot go in off Nedum Onuoha for another in Saturday’s 3-2 home victory over QPR, and his manager still believes the 21-year-old could remain so beyond the end of the season.

David Hoilett

“We would like to think that the way that he’s playing, he’s been playing with a spring in his step and he’s back to the form that he had before the transfer window opened, so we’ve not given up on that,” said Kean, quoted in the Lancashire Telegraph.

“There’s no reason why moving forward we can’t agree something and get pen put to paper on the appropriate time.

“I think what he’s got to do is just forget about everything, and just make sure he’s playing and performing the way he is.

“We’ve not given up and if it gets to the end of the season and we are where we think we’re going to be, there’s no reason why Junior can’t agree a contract with us.”

Blackburn’s win against the R’s, coupled with Wolves’ 5-1 defeat to West Brom on Sunday, saw Rovers move out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone on goal difference.