Iniesta defends Torres as drought continues

Andres Iniesta has leapt to the defence of Spain team-mate Fernando Torres after the goal-shy 50 million striker drew another blank against the Czech Republic.

Torres has failed to score since his big-money move from Liverpool to Chelsea in January and was relegated to the bench for international duty on Friday.

Spain registered a hard-fought 2-1 win with David Villa grabbing two second-half goals to become his country's record goalscorer. Torres was introduced at half-time and, although he failed to register, Iniesta believes the former Atletico Madrid man contributed in other ways.

He said: "Fernando is doing really well. It's clear that strikers live to score, but in Granada he gave us plenty of things which people don't see such as hard work, helping out in defence and allowing others the space to play. He does work which is not noticed, but it is very fundamental for the team.

"As for the goals, I think it's only a matter of time. He has always scored and he will continue doing so and therefore there are no problems.''

Torres' former Liverpool team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa, now at Real Madrid, added: "Fernando has been playing at the top level for many years and it's not the first time he has been through a bad patch in front of goal.

"But when you are as good as him you don't need to worry. He needs to keep doing his job and the goals will come.''

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Kean defends Anderson signing

Blackburn manager Steve Kean has defended the signing of a pre-contract agreement with Myles Anderson which will see the youngster given a two-year deal in the summer despite him playing just two minutes of competitive football.

The 20-year-old defender, the son of agent Jerome Anderson, who is an advisor to Rovers owners Venkys, made his debut at the end of current club Aberdeen's 5-0 win over Kilmarnock on February 19 but has not featured since.

"We feel that Myles Anderson is a player with great potential as a late developer," Kean told the Lancashire Telegraph. "We think he has a lot of potential but there was the opportunity for him to go Scotland in January and we and he felt that would be a good experience for him."

He had previously had a trial with Blackburn last summer, making a 13-minute substitute appearance in a 3-0 victory at Southport, before moving on to train with Motherwell ahead of his short-term deal with the Dons.

However, despite his lack of experience Kean feels Anderson could emerge along the same lines as Manchester United's Chris Smalling, who less than three years ago was playing for non-league Maidstone United.

Kean added: "He could become something of a Chris Smalling who came through late in football and Myles has done the same because of his schooling.

"There was interest in him from a couple of Spanish clubs but he is our player and will be at our club full time in July."

Aberdeen manager Craig Brown, who brought in Anderson in January, said he always expected the defender to make the move to Ewood Park at the end of the season.

"He was signed as cover and it was always his intention to go to Blackburn," he told the Press and Journal.

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