Think of a black player who plays for Blackburn. That’s a strange thing to demand, right? But there’s no ulterior motive. I’d hazard a guess the first player that popped into your head was Christopher Samba. Ask Premier League fans to name a black player who plays for Blackburn and the vast majority would answer Christopher Samba, which would be understandable. After all, Samba has consistently been a stand-out player for Blackburn season after season with his backs-to-the-wall, no-nonsense defending as well as the odd goal.

But he is not the only impressive black player at the club, and while Samba and the ownership of the club have been in the headlines in recent months, the young starlet that is Junior Hoilett has been quietly playing his football and slowly rising amidst the steam of tandoori chicken.

Hoilett made his debut for Blackburn in December 2009 against Hull City but it’s only under the management of Steve Kean that he has seen more regular football, blossoming as the major plus in Kean’s first season at the club. Indeed, he played the role of the saviour – scoring five goals in his last 11 appearances at towards the end of the 20102011season (including crucial goals against Wolves and West Brom) which were key in maintaining Blackburn’s place in the Premier League.

Naturally, he has the physical attributes that are essential for a modern winger – pace to burn and trickery to go with it. It’s easy for a young winger who is blessed with raw place to be over-reliant on it and thus allow it to affect their decision-making, but Hoilett complements his pace with the usage of his quick feet which means he can beat his man with ease if he doesn’t have the advantage of pace. Also having the ability to play as a striker, he has the calmness in front of goal and the ability to shoot from distance that not many out-and-out wingers possess. Usually deployed on the left, he is stronger on his right-side which means he favours cutting inside before dancing his way through defences or having a shot.

Although he is pretty refined for a young winger, Hoilett’s final ball can be somewhat wayward. At 21, he has time to improve on his weaknesses before the inevitable move to a bigger club – rumours are that there is a minimum fee release clause in the contract he recently signed. Blackburn have had a difficult start to the season but the continuing emergence of Junior Hoilett has been a major positive.