BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness is ready to push the boat out in a bid to recruit a top-line striker after his worst fears have been confirmed by Rovers' medical staff.
Ewood goal-ace Matt Jansen has now been officially ruled out of action until the middle of January after damaging ankle ligaments following a fall at Newcastle on Saturday.
And that means Souness now faces the prospect of going into the hectic Christmas period with just three senior strikers in Ciccio Grabbi, Egil Ostenstad and Mark Hughes, who boast just one league goal between them.
However, Souness today urged fans not to worry and he has stressed he will not panic buy as he prepares to enter a critical stage in the season.
"As far as I'm concerned nothing has really changed," said Souness.
"We were looking for a striker long before Matt got injured and we have several targets in mind but at the moment we can't get the players we want.
"So I'm not going to go out and just waste money for the sake of it.
"I want to reassure our fans that we are aware of the situation and I would urge them not to panic.
"We are still looking for one or even possibly two new players up front but they've got to be the right kind of people to improve on what we've got already.
"We have made enquiries about people, even in the last two or three days. But I'm not going to rush in and just buy someone for the sake of it because that would be foolish at this moment in time."
Souness was considering a move for Celta Vigo hitman Catanha and went to watch the player at the weekend together with striker coach Dean Saunders.
However, the Spanish club have slapped a $14 million price tag on the Brazilian-born 29-year-old.
And Souness has decided not to pursue his interest in that direction.
"We did go and see Catanha but they were asking for their money back on him and that was something I felt I couldn't recommend to the board.
"But we are continuing to look it's just the problem is anyone who is any good are already with top sides which makes it very difficult to prise them away.
"Generally speaking, we can't compete for the most expensive players now.
"But I would hope the board may do that for an exceptional player.
"Getting a top striker, someone who can also get the best out of Matt Jansen, is critical for us.
"It could be the difference between flirting with relegation or flirting with European qualification. That's how important a top striker is to us."
Manchester United's Dwight Yorke is among the names to have been linked with Rovers. But I can reveal the Trinidad and Tobago international is not a name on Souness's hit-list.
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