WHERE Tony Yeboah and Tomas Brolin failed, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink aims to succeed.

Born in the Dutch colony of Surinam - like Rudd Gullit - the Leeds United striker would like nothing better than to become the new hero of the Elland Road faithful who have been holding out for one for so long.

And Leeds boss George Graham clearly believes he is up to the challenge.

Hasselbaink, signed from Portuguese club Boavista in summer, made a flying start to his English career by scoring a cracking goal against Arsenal on the opening day of the season.

But, since then, he's run into one or two problems, not least failing to add to that tally in the four following games, despite our exclusive Carling Opta Index ratings showing plenty of goal attempts.

And what smacks of red tape from the football authorities prevented him sporting simply the name "Jimmy" on the back of his shirt.

The Premier League have insisted it must be "Hasselbaink", even though the player wants to be known simply as Jimmy - presumably in the Brazilian fashion of Juninho, Zico, Pele etc.

Graham won't worry what it says on the player's shirt, however, if he can overcome the scoring jinx which seems to be haunting whichever players wear the all white of Leeds.

Last winter they were the Premiership's lowest-scoring side with a meagre 28 goals from their 38 matches.

This season started well enough with four goals in the first two fixtures before the drought set in with three blanks.

Old habits, it seems, die hard but Rovers will be anxious to ensure they don't start a new trend tomorrow.

Graham, and the Leeds fans, are banking on Jimmy to deliver the goods.

"He will become a big favourite with the fans. He's a very exciting player, our fans will certainly take to him but, obviously, he needs a few goals early on," said the manager.

In the last two years with Boavista, Jimmy became something of a cult figure and he was second-highest scorer in the country last season, with well over 20 to his credit.

Rovers boss Roy Hodgson saw, at first hand, the player's striking prowess as Jimmy scored against Inter Milan in the third round of the UEFA Cup, though the Portuguese club crashed 5-1 in the San Siro.

One of Graham's main hopes as he began to reshape the Leeds squad was that he could instil a similar type of all-for-one spirit which typified his Arsenal teams of the past.

Judging by the comments of one of the players trying to replace Jimmy in the senior side at Elland Road, Scottish striker Derek Lilley, the Leeds boss is well on the way to achieving his objective.

Lilley scored two and enjoyed two assists for the reserves in midweek but, instead of trumpeting his own cause, encouraged his rival.

"In fairness to Jimmy, he needs to be given a chance, time to settle in and a run of games," said Lilley.

"I am quite prepared to bide my time. If Martin Dahlin could not get into the Blackburn side - and he's a world-class player - what have I got to moan about."

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