CRAIG Short has labelled Blackburn Rovers hitman Jordan Rhodes as the best finisher he has played or worked with.

And that is why the Rovers first-team coach is backing the prolific striker to end his five-game goal drought in tomorrow’s trip to Nottingham Forest.

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Short lined-up behind forwards of the calibre of 2002 Worthington Cup final goal heroes Andy Cole and Matt Jansen during his successful six-season stay at Ewood Park.

But the former centre back, who also once called Dwight Yorke a team-mate, believes even they did not have what Rhodes has.

“He’s the best finisher I’ve ever seen – and I’ve played with Andy Cole,” said former Notts County manager Short, who returned to Rovers last summer to join boss Gary Bowyer’s coaching staff.

“His last goal for us, at Fulham, was similar to the goal Andy Cole scored in the Worthington Cup final – it was just so quick.

“At the moment he’s not getting the chances he usually gets – we are creating chances but they haven’t been falling to Jordan.

“But he’s been through patches like this before in his career and all of a sudden he’ll surprise us – or should I say won’t surprise us – and go and score two in the next couple of games and he’ll be back to being Jordan Rhodes.”

Rhodes has scored an incredible 57 goals in 109 appearances for Rovers since his club record £8m move from Huddersfield Town in August 2012.

And Short reckons the feared reputation he has built up in the blue and white halved shirt has started to precede him.

He said: “Centre halves are more aware of him, I’m sure, because he’s had two great seasons for us scoring goals – don’t forget he kept this club up two years ago.

“So he’s going to be targeted by opposing coaches, managers and centre halves. He understands that, it’s part of being a striker.

“But he’ll keep practising in training every day and, as I said, I’ve played with some very, very good strikers but I can’t think of anyone who can finish like he can finish.

“It’s a real freaky knack he’s got, he just passes the ball into the net before the keeper has had a chance to move.

“Hopefully he’ll score at the weekend.”

Rhodes, who missed a penalty against his former club Huddersfield earlier this month, captained Rovers in Tuesday’s 1-0 home win over Birmingham City and Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town in the absence of Grant Hanley with a knee injury.

Centre back Hanley has now returned to training meaning the only three players currently unavailable to Bowyer going into tomorrow’s Forest clash are Tommy Spurr, Chris Brown and Jason Lowe.

On doctor’s orders the Rovers boss was told to stay away from training yesterday after complaining of illness.

“Gary’s got a bug so the doctor has told him to stay away from the building because it can quickly spread,” said Short, who conducted Bowyer’s pre-match press conference.

“Players are told to do that so the manager has got to stay away as well.”