Big Sam : The Zonz is my Player of the Year

Rovers gaffer Big Sam reckons that Steven N’Zonzi is the Blackburn Rovers player of the season.

The Zonz was expected to make a tentative and ‘Kalinic-like’ start to life at Ewood Park as a young man that had come from abroad with no real big time experience.

But far from it, the Zonz has barely missed a game and capped off a great season with an absolute belter of a goal at the weekend.

Seriously, that is the best goal I have seen at Ewood Park since Tugay’s strike on the volley against Tottenham.

On the while though, The Zonz has been a pillar of consistency and strength in the middle and that has not gone unnoticed by the manager.

Allardyce, speaking to Sky Sports said -‘N’Zonzi is my player of the year, no doubt about it,’

‘His resilience and endurance in his first season, coming from a relegated side in France, is a wonderful achievement for any player coming into the Premier League for the first time from abroad never mind one who was 20 when he arrived.

‘He has had an outstanding season for us and where we thought he would be playing five or 10 games with more experienced players like Vince Grella, Keith Andrews or David Dunn playing more he has completely dominated that position.

‘It is a big surprise. He has had a wonderful season, what we must guard against is him thinking he has made it because he still has a long way to go to becoming an outstanding Premier League player – but he has certainly got off to a fantastic start.’

For me, that player of the year award is a five horse race and The Zonz is right up there.