STEVE Kean insists he has not been told he has to sell any of his Blackburn Rovers’ stars as he bids to breath new life into their survival bid this month.

Following yesterday’s morale-denting 2-1 home defeat to Stoke City, the Rovers boss was adamant he had his sights solely on strengthening his squad – despite growing suggestions he would be forced to sell.

Sources close to Venky’s have suggested the club would cash in on at least one of their key performers, with Junior Hoilett the most likely departee, but Kean said selling was not part of his plan.

Andy Johnson, Chris Gunter, Bradley Orr and Nedum Onuoha are all understood to be on Kean’s lengthy wish list, after yesterday’s defeat again showed Rovers’ lack of quality.

Kean said: “I have been told nothing about selling. We are only going to try to add. I have said before we are going to keep the basis of the squad together and add to that and that is the way we will hopefully approach this window.”

A first half Peter Crouch double was enough to dampen Rovers’ spirits after Saturday’s memorable win at Old Trafford, despite David Goodwillie’s consolation midway through the second half.

Rovers showed good spirit as they threatened a comeback and Kean believes Chris Samba’s controversial disallowed goal early on was a key decision.

He said: “Their second goal is a killer because we feel as though we are in the ascendency but we have not dealt very well with the counter attack.

“We feel as thought it is a missed opportunity because a win could have moved us out of the bottom three. But it is very tight, there are other teams dragged in it and if we keep performing and dig a couple of results out we can find ourselves in a better position.

“We are disappointed with the goal that has been disallowed. At first we think maybe the ref has seen some pushing by Chris but he has said he gave it against Yakubu because, having seen it again, he is just minding his own business.

“We feel a little bit robbed by that. Then in the last minute there is a last ditch block on the line from Yakubu. We deserved more.”

Kean will be hopeful of adding new faces to his squad before Rovers’ next Premier League test, a home game against Fulham in just less than a fortnight.