BLACKBURN Rovers remain hopeful of signing Sunderland striker Danny Graham.

And their chances of landing Graham last night increased after the Black Cats added to their frontline.

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Sunderland’s former Rovers boss Sam Allardyce completed a four-month loan deal for Trabzonspor’s Dame N’Doye.

But, with the ex-Hull City forward ineligible for their trip to Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow, he could hold on to Graham a little longer.

The 30-year-old played the full 90 minutes for the Blacks Cats in their FA Cup loss at holders Arsenal last Saturday.

He then made a late appearance in their win at fellow Premier League strugglers Swansea City on Wednesday.

But Allardyce is willing to let Graham, who is also reportedly attracting the interest of his former loan club Wolves, leave the Stadium of Light.

And it is understood that the ex-Middlesbrough, Watford and Swansea City frontman is open to a move to Rovers who would be able to come an agreement with Sunderland over his wages.

Allardyce indicated before his side’s tie with Arsenal that he would not be willing to let any of his players depart until the match with Tottenham was out of the way.

Rovers boss Paul Lambert, who is also chasing another creative player, said: “You’d hope it’s coming to the time where Premier League clubs will decide whether to help teams or not help teams.

“I think the offensive players were always going to stretch into late January but hopefully after this weekend people will want to buy themselves, or bring people in themselves, and let the fringe ones out.”

More pressing for Lambert is a defender after he was left with only one fit and available senior centre-back in captain Grant Hanley for tomorrow’s visit of Brighton & Hove Albion to Ewood Park.

Shane Duffy is certainly ruled out after he came off with a groin injury late on in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at home to QPR.

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And Matt Kilgallon is doubtful with the hip injury that has sidelined him for the past week.

Lambert, who is likely to play midfielder Darragh Lenihan at centre-back if his search proves unsuccessful, said: “The centre-half area becomes really important now with Duffy being out.

“I always think anyway you’ve got to have four centre-halves at your football club – and at the moment we’ve only got three and two of them are injured. It leaves you with one centre-back and it becomes a big, big area for us.

“What I don’t want to do is go with somebody really young and inexperienced who doesn’t know the league. Then you’ve also got the problem of what teams are going to let experienced ones come out.”

Asked if he was considering West Ham United’s Doneil Henry, who was on loan at Rovers until January 3, Lambert said: “There’s a few there that I’ve made calls about. I’m just waiting on what ones are there.”

On Duffy’s condition, Lambert said: “He’s in alright spirits. We’re still waiting on the results of the scan. We can’t really comment on how severe it is or how good it is.

“With a bit of luck, he won’t be out for too long. It’s a blow because he’s playing ever so well.”

Midfielder Danny Guthrie could return to Rovers squad tomorrow after returning to training following a hamstring injury.