Yakubu has revealed he snubbed a January move to QPR because he owed it to Blackburn to stay.
Rangers wanted to buy the Nigeria striker in a double deal with Rovers defender Chris Samba to boost their relegation fight, because of the hi impressive return of 12 goals in 16 league games.
But unlike Samba, who tried to force a move away from Ewood Park, Yakubu says he never contemplated leaving – because the Lancashire club saved his career.
The 29-year-old claims it would have been wrong to go after Rovers threw him a lifeline in August when they rescued him from the wilderness at Everton.
Yakubu claims he wasn’t tempted, even though QPR owner Tony Fernandes’ bags of cash probably give the Londoners a better chance than Blackburn of staying up.
“I didn’t look at it that way,” said the player. “I’m lucky to be here. Blackburn gave me the opportunity to prove myself, so why would I want to leave?
“I decided not to go. I said, ‘I don’t want to go.’ I wanted to stay here and be part of it. I didn’t want to make any move because I’m happy here.
“They gave me the chance to play in the Premier League again. It’s great to be here. If we could just stay in the league, it would be perfect.”
Yakubu now hopes to continue his red-hot scoring streak against Rangers QPR at Ewood Park on Saturday after completing a three-match ban.
However, he says his goals are not as important as avoiding relegation.
Yakubu
“It’s not just about me scoring goals and if we don’t stay up, my goals will mean nothing,” he said. “The most important thing is that we stay up.
“It’s good to score goals, but the most important thing is that we stay in the Premier League.
“It’s no good trying to be happy scoring goals when you’re not winning. If you score and the team wins, you’re happier than if you score and the team doesn’t win.”
Yakubu recalls how Portsmouth stayed up in their first couple of seasons after winning promotion because of boss Harry Redknapp’s man-management.
“When we were struggling, we stayed up because we believed,” said the former Middlesbrough star. “If you believe that you won’t go down, then you’ll be fine. We have to believe we can turn it round.”
Rovers manager Steve Kean is delighted to have his talismanic striker back following last week’s 7-1 mauling at Arsenal and claims Yakubu is as important for him as Demba Ba is for Newcastle.
“Just look at his goals tally,” said Kean. “Newcastle have missed Demba Ba while he was away [with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations].
“Now he’s come back in again, looking sharp, and he’s made a difference. We think Yak can do the same for us.”
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Steve Kean claims Chris Samba will not be offered a new deal to stay at Blackburn.
The club won over Samba when he tried to leave 13 months ago by handing him a bumper four-and-a-half-year contract, but Kean insists there will be no pay rise this time for his wantaway skipper.
“No, he’s not getting a new contract,” said the Blackburn boss. “He’s got a four-year contract, which is still in place.”
Kean will expect to see Samba out on the training ground this week after a scan revealed he has not damaged his hamstring.
The Rovers ace pulled out of a reserve game last week, complaining of a sore hamstring and back, but Kean expects him to be pushing for a recall to his squad for the Manchester City clash on Saturday week.
“He’s got the all-clear from an MRI scan on his hamstring,” said Kean. ‘‘He can push on now.”