THE jury may still be out on most of the 15 signings Blackburn Rovers have made this season but it is hard to argue with Paul Lambert’s assessment of Danny Graham since his arrival on loan from Sunderland.

“He’s been excellent,” said Rovers boss Lambert after the striker bagged a brilliant brace in Saturday’s 2-2 home draw with Bristol City.

Graham’s expertly taken double strike took his tally for the term up to six, moving him joint level at the top of the scoring charts with Ben Marshall, and it came from two of the 12 meaningful touches he made in the match.

Quality over quantity, goes the old adage, and the 30-year-old has displayed plenty of that during his first three months at Ewood Park.

“Danny’s two goals were great and he’s been excellent for us since he’s been at the football club,” said Lambert.

“It’s very difficult for loan players when they come in and you’re getting toward the tail end of the season.

“It’s easy for them to switch off but that’s not been the case with Danny. He’s been excellent.

“His work rate, what he’s like around the place and off the field; he’s all the things you want from an experienced player.

“He’s been there, seen it and done it. He’s been a massive player for us.”
Lambert, if he remains in charge of Rovers, would love to sign Graham on a permanent basis once his Sunderland contract expires in the summer.

But the final decision will be down to Venky’s who were willing to fund a large part of the frontman’s Premier League pay packet when they rubber-stamped his loan move in January.

Rovers’ owners have had their money’s worth with Graham turning in a number of impressive performances despite carrying a niggling hamstring injury.

The former Swansea City forward was one of seven new arrivals in the New Year along with Elliott Bennett, Elliott Ward, Simon Jackson, Tony Watt, Jordi Gomez and Matt Grimes.

Grimes and Bennett have performed in patches, Ward has been solid enough, Jackson has looked a decent option from the bench, and Watt and, in particular, Gomez, have shown flashes of the undoubted talent they possess.

But none have managed to match the consistency shown by Graham who has swiftly established himself as the club’s number one striker following the departure of Jordan Rhodes.

It was a mantle Nathan Delfouneso and the now departed Fode Koita and Tom Lawrence were unable to grasp after they were signed by Lambert’s predecessor Gary Bowyer.

Indeed of the new additions made by Bowyer last summer only Hope Akpan has gone on to become a regular with Sacha Petshi and Modou Barrow having been and gone, along with Lawrence and Doneil Henry, while Danny Guthrie is deemed surplus to requirements.

The same, however, cannot be said of Graham.