Blackburn Rovers captain Christopher Samba has backed striker Yakubu to score 20 goals this season and help the club avoid relegation.

The Nigerian forward has found the net ten times this term after his four-goal haul in last Saturday's 4-2 win over Swansea City.

"What Yakubu did for us is no surprise to any of us at all," Samba told the Lancashire Telegraph. "We know if you give the ball to the Yak he is going to produce something on the right spot for you all the time. It is no surprise at all he got four and we are very happy for him.

"I have no doubt he can reach 20 easy this season, no problems. We just have to make sure every time he scores we keep the back door shut and win games that way.

"We know what Yakubu is. He is always happy and enjoys his football. When he doesn't get the ball in training he is not happy. On Saturday he scored four goals and he never scored in training all week so we have to stop him in training all the time."

Rovers, who are currently 18th in the Premier League table, travel to Sunderland on Sunday.