Bottom of the league entering December, the light appeared to be dying for Steve Kean and his beleaguered Blackburn side, but a series of determined displays in recent weeks have demonstrated that neither the players nor the manager have any intention of going gently into the night…

Attack appears to be the only form of defence available to a side with no clean sheets in the league all season, and with the Ewood Park faithful sometimes resembling a lynch mob it seems a kill-or-be-killed mentality on the pitch may be the only way to save the team from the drop and the manager from the gallows.

The loan signing of striker Anthony Modeste from Bordeaux is Steve Kean’s first significant foray into the transfer market this month, and seems indicative of the attacking mindset that is slowly propelling the club’s climb up the table. With Yakubu the only consistent goal scorer in a somewhat agricultural front line, Kean appeared relieved to have acquired an option with more cultivated qualities, commenting:

If you look at his attributes as a player, then he has something that we don’t have, he likes to play on the shoulder, he likes to run in behind. He can stretch the game and technically he is good.

THE STATISTICS

A product of the Nice youth system, Modeste made his full professional debut for the French Ligue 1 outfit back in 2007 and returned a modest 10 goals in 63 appearances over two seasons at the Stade Du Ray. Loaned out to Ligue 2 side Angers in the summer of 2009, Modeste relished regular starts and re-ignited his faltering prospects with an impressive haul of 21 goals in 37 appearances.

A 3.5m Euro move to Bordeaux the following season seemed to herald a rebirth for the young striker in the top-tier of French football, but a frustrating second season saw Modeste reduced to a peripheral role. As a result, Blackburn’s scouts endured a wasted trip earlier this month, as the forward was nothing more than an unused sub in Bordeaux’s clash with Valenciennes on the 14th January. Over a season and a half at the Stade Chaban-Delmas, though, Modeste has notched 15 goals in 63 appearances. He’s also represented the France U21 side on 15 occasions, scoring 6 times, but has yet to make the step up to full international level.

THE PROSPECTS

Modeste’s goal scoring record for Bordeaux is perhaps more impressive than it might initially appear, given his regular position on the substitutes’ bench. His arrival will give Kean more options in terms of formation- the Blackburn boss prefers a lone striker system and has started with a front two just twice this season. Aside from Yakubu, the forwards have failed miserably, with David Goodwillie and Jason Roberts netting 2 goals in twenty-five appearances between them.

Clearly, Bordeaux still feel the young striker has a promising future, having refused to countenance a clause in the loan contract that would allow Blackburn to seal a permanent deal at the end of the season. Watched closely by Arsenal following his fruitful spell at Angers, Modeste plainly has his admirers amongst European football’s elite, and with two disappointing spells at French Ligue 1 clubs already blotting his copybook, he will be anxious to prove himself at what could be a make-or-break loan spell in the Premier League.

With a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) valuation of 5.0, Modeste will primarily be competing with Danny Graham, Steve Morison and Leon Best for investment in a budget striker bracket that has so far failed to deliver the kind of output enjoyed by owners of Andy Carroll and Peter Odemwingie last season.

Blackburn’s fixtures are a mixed bag in the short term with trips to Arsenal and Manchester City sandwiched between some kinder home ties against Newcastle, QPR and Aston Villa. This spell should give Fantasy managers ample opportunity to assess Modeste’s potential in time for an enticing run of games for Blackburn between Gameweeks 27 and 31, and with goals the only likely path to salvation for Steve Kean’s side, Modeste should get every chance to make his mark in what could be a long and bloody battle against relegation.