SAM Allardyce fears failure to land Stoke City’s new ‘headmaster’ could return to haunt him this afternoon after conceding Kenwyne Jones was financially ‘out of our league’.

The Blackburn Rovers boss revealed he made a move for the Trinidad and Tobago target man in the summer, after Sunderland made him available, but admitted preliminary discussions quickly forced him to look elsewhere.

Jones has since made an £8million move to Stoke, Rovers’ Premier League opponents this afternoon, and has started life in the Potteries in prolific mood – scoring in each of their last four games.

The 25-year-old has also proved a nemesis for Rovers in recent seasons, having scored four times in his last six games against them, with Allardyce in no doubt who the hosts’ danger man will be this afternoon.

He said: “If we could have afforded him we would have bought him this summer. But he was out of our price range unfortunately. He was someone we looked at definitely.

“We spoke to Steve Bruce about it but unfortunately, financially, it wasn’t something we could achieve. You have seen the benefits he can bring for Stoke City.

“I was interested but couldn’t financially achieve that so it wasn’t a possibility he could come to Blackburn. It is not a regret, you move on. Most of the targets over the years never materialise into signings, especially when finances become tight.

“We are in a position where we are getting into the club what we can afford. That is always a very frustrating thing but it is the reality of football and has been for many, many years.”

Rovers and Stoke have attracted their fair share of critics due to their direct approach at times, but Allardyce insists players’ aerial prowess should not be overlooked.

He considers Jones as ‘one of the best’ aerially in the Premier League and has warned his defenders not to let him teach them a lesson in heading the ball.

Allardyce said: “He has already scored four goals, mostly from headers I think, and the power of the man in the opposition box, everyone sees that sight as a great sight to be seen.

“In many ways in the game that skill has been undermined. I don’t know why we don’t talk more about the heading ability of players. We seem to dismiss it as a top, top skill but it is a top skill, being able to control today’s ball from a heading point of view – because it moves around and deviates in the air. Getting the timing right is more difficult than ever before.

“Kenwyne Jones is a very powerful man in the opposition box. He brings you goals and takes pressure off the other players. He is a good target man and has had a few years in the Premier League and has gained by that experience.”