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Bursting on to the scene with a Carling Cup goal is not where the similarities end between Blackburn's Canadian youngster Junior Hoilett and the England striker Jermain Defoe, according to the Rovers midfielder David Dunn.

While Defoe left West Ham for a 19-goal loan spell with Bournemouth after scoring in a League Cup win over Walsall nine years ago, Blackburn feel Hoilett, 19, has spent enough time away. Hoilett has been with the club since the age of 13 but was forced to spend the last two seasons in Bundesliga 2 before finally being awarded a work permit during the summer.

He came off the bench in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City and scored in his first start in the 3-1 Carling Cup victory at Gillingham last week and, as a substitute, he finally brought some purpose to Blackburn on Saturday. Although he was stuck out on the right flank, his runs between defenders gave Dunn a target for incisive passes and the Canadian hit the sidenetting and also lobbed over Robert Green, but on to the roof of the net.

"He couldn't get a work permit, he was training every day and we were itching for him to get a game," Dunn said. He went on loan to Germany and he's going to be a good player. He's very similar to Jermain Defoe."

Though Carlton Cole continues to impress, how West Ham could do with Defoe now. Green feels his manager, Gianfranco Zola, has to add another forward before tomorrow's transfer deadline. "Without wanting to put any pressure on anybody, it would be nice to have three strikers," Green said.

Blackburn Rovers (4-5-1): Robinson; Jacobsen, Samba, Givet, Chimbonda; Andrews, Dunn, Grella, Nzonzi (Hoilett, 60), Pedersen; Roberts (Kalinic, 75). Substitutes not used: Brown, Emerton, Khizanishvili, Olsson, Salgado

West Ham United (4-3-3): Green; Faubert, Collins, Upson, Spector; Collison (Kovac, 87), Parker, Noble; Jiminez (Dyer, 67), Cole, Stanislas. Substitutes not used: Kurucz, Gabbidon, Nouble, Tomkins, Hines.

Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

Booked: Blackburn Dunn; West Ham Noble, Parker, Collins.

Man of the match: Dunn.

Attendance: 23,421.