Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce says new signing Elrio van Heerden will need to improve his physique to make an impact in The Premier League.
The 25-year-old moved to Ewood Park on a two-year contract following his free transfer from Brugge.
Allardyce says the South African was recommended to Rovers by the player’s agent, who also represents Benni McCarthy and Aaron Mokoena.
“We’ve signed a very talented young man we feel, I think it is a great addition,” Allardyce said on the club’s website.
“He’s got lots of pace, lots of ability, he can play both sides of the field, wide right, wide left.
“He’s been with Brugge a year or two and had a couple of injuries which has been hiding his talents for a while, but we’ve monitored him over the last few months.”
Allardyce sees similarities between his new signing and fellow South African Steven Pienaar who plys his club trade at Everton.
“We need to build him up a little strength-wise, he’s not the biggest of lads, but he has the similarities of his international team-mate Pienaar and we all know how well he’s done," added the Blackburn boss.
“So if he settles quickly and gets stuck in to the regimes that we have, the core strength work, the flexibility, the mobility and we build him up a little bit then I’m sure he’ll make an impact as the season progresses.”