STEVE Kean has tipped Mauro Formica and Ruben Rochina to prove a Premier League hit next season after insisting they will be ready to ‘hit the ground running’.

Argentine play maker Formica is expected to make his senior international debut this weekend in Poland, having been an unused substitute in Wednesday’s 4-1 defeat to Nigeria.

Formica, 23, joined Rovers from Newell’s Old Boys for around £3m at the end of the January transfer window but has yet to make his first team bow, with boss Steve Kean believing he needed time to adjust to the pace of the Premier League.

He was named in this month’s youthful Argentina squad comprising predominantly of European-based players under 25 and, after missing out on selection on Wednesday, is set for his big chance on Sunday.

Formica knows there are places still up for grabs in coach Sergio Batista’s squad for the Copa America next month and, while unlikely to make the final squad, Rovers boss Kean believes he has a big future ahead.

Former Barcelona striker Ruben Rochina was brought to Ewood Park at the same time at Formica and his first team chances have also been limited, but Kean believes both will be ready next campaign.

Kean said: “I thought they were ready towards the end of the season, it was just about deciding when the best time to put them in was.

“If we had a couple more victories and were a couple more places higher then it would have been worth putting them in. From Mauro’s point of view I certainly felt it was the wrong time to put him.

“Ruben got a taste of it as a sub but was unfortunate to have dislocated his shoulder because he would have been involved in the Manchester United and Wolves game.

“People have seen what skill and ability that lad has. Mauro has other qualities and both are fantastic talents and I am sure both will do really, really well here.

“They will only be better for a full pre season. Both of them are solid lads. They have learned English quickly and if you speak to the lads they have been popular figures in the dressing room and have been accepted straight away. They will be all the better for a short break and then coming back for pre season.”

Formica and Rochina will join a host of other youngsters in Rovers’ first team squad next season, with the likes of Phil Jones, Junior Hoilett, Martin Olsson and Grant Hanley already established senior players.

Striker Nick Blackman will return from a loan spell at Aberdeen to play a part in pre-season with Jason Lowe also expected to be involved after a temporary stint at Oldham.

“I have had a meeting with Phil Cannon and we want to continue our development of the young players,” said Kean.

“We want to bring players through the ranks into the first team. That is important for us.

“If the academy lads are good enough they will be up here at the senior training centre training with us. That is something I will push for the young lads being a massive part of the club.

“Players like Nick Blackman and Jason Lowe will come back into the first team squad.”