Rigters Told To Wait

Mark Hughes has warned Maceo Rigters he will have to wait until the new year before Blackburn consider sending him out on loan.

Dutch striker Rigters has struggled to make himself part of the first-team picture at Ewood Park following his summer switch from NAC Breda.

The 23-year-old was recently forced to deny comments he was reported to have made demanding a loan move if he was not given more opportunities.

Rovers boss Hughes, speaking to Sky Sports, said: 'It may be a situation which we look at but I'm not looking to do that in the coming months.

'If I felt that he needed to have a little bit longer and have a regular spell in a team, which I couldn't give him, then maybe we'd look at it.

'But that's more likely to be in the new year, certainly not before this transfer window.'

Blackburn boast an embarrassment of riches up front at present, with Roque Santa Cruz having made a big impact since his summer arrival and Benni McCarthy having rediscovered the form that made him an instant hit last term.

Hughes admitted: 'There's a number of players who are finding it difficult to get in the first XI because it's a good side.

'Maceo understands the situation and he'll have to be patient like a number of players.

'He's got ability and I'm pleased with his attitude.

'He probably needs a little more time on the field of play, which it's difficult to give him at the moment at first-team level.

'You'll probably see in the next few weeks we'll be putting him into more reserve games.

'It's an area we've looked at this year. We feel it's important the guys that are out of the team are still getting nearly the same amount of work in a physical sense that the guys in the first team are having.

'It's really important that they do. If they're too far off the pace then they can't make an impact when they're needed.'

Mikey.

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