GARY Bowyer says French duo Fode Koita and Sacha Petshi will need to be given time to adjust to English football after signing for Blackburn Rovers.

Bowyer has expressed his delight after Koita and Petshi became Rovers’ first signings of the summer this week, with Koita signing despite fierce competition from other clubs.

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Both are moving to England for the first time and Bowyer says a patient approach will be taken with the duo.

“We’re delighted to have been able to get them over the line,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to working with them and we’ve just got to be patient.

“Moving to a different country, learning a language and getting to the pace of the game over here is going to take time.

“But the environment that we’ve got at the club and the family club feel will hopefully help them settle in very quickly.”

Striker Koita had been linked with Cardiff City and had also previously been close to a deal with Turkish club Sivasspor after leaving French side Caen at the end of his contract.

Bowyer said he will not be involved in Rovers’ friendlies against Tranmere Rovers tomorrow or Oldham Athletic on Saturday as he builds up fitness.

The manager, acknowledges that there are some similarities between the pacy Koita and Josh King, who opted to join Bournemouth earlier in the summer.

But he says Koita’s signing is not an indication that Rudy Gestede or Jordan Rhodes will definitely leave, with both the subject of speculation linking them with moves away from Ewood Park.

“We wanted to bring Fode in regardless of the speculation,” Bowyer said.

“We lost a striker in the summer, Luke Varney left as well and David Dunn, so we knew we needed bodies in that area and this presented itself with a great opportunity.

“It’s been a massive effort from everybody involved, backroom staff and the board to get him over the line. We’re grateful for their help and support.

“We’ve done ever so well to get him because there were a couple of clubs trying to get his signature in England. There was interest from Turkey and clubs in France as well.

“We’re delighted that once he got to the training ground and we had a meeting with him he was impressed with what he saw and we were able to conclude the deal.

“He can play on either flank or down the middle, he’s quick and he’s aggressive, he’s a powerful runner and he’s got some good technique.

“He is similar to Kingy, I think Kingy had unbelievable pace and Fode is the same in that sense.

“Fode can play anywhere up top and on either flank, which is the same as Josh King.

“But he’s not a replacement for Josh King, he’s Fode and he’s himself.”

Combative midfielder Petshi is 6ft 4in tall and has signed after impressing on trial.

Bowyer says however that the 24-year-old does face a big step up from the French third tier with Bastia.

“Sacha came on trial and he’s one who is going to take time,” said the Rovers manager.

“He’s a little bit of a project in that we’ve got to build him up, even though he’s a great size himself.

“From the level of football he’s been playing at to where he is now it’s going to take time, so we’ve just got to be patient with him.”