BLACKBURN boss Paul Ince has backed red-hot Chilean Carlos Villanueva to set Ewood Park alight next season.

The 22-year-old attacking midfield player is on the verge of becoming Ince’s second signing of the summer, now that Rovers have secured a work permit for the gifted South American.

After allowing David Bentley to join Tottenham yesterday, Ince will look to Villanueva to get supporters on the edge of their seats again next term, having swooped for Chile’s player of the year initially on a season-long loan, but with a view to a permanent deal.

And the Rovers chief has revealed the dressing room is already buzzing with excitement in anticipation of Villanueva’s arrival, after the players got an early glimpse of his silky skills on the internet website Youtube.

Ince said: “He’s a very skilful and exciting player and hopefully it’s a signing that will excite our fans.

“Some of the lads have been watching him on Youtube and he looks different class on there.

“Getting him here excites me and shows the kind of football I’m looking to play at Blackburn.”

Rovers have beat off interest from several other clubs in the race to secure Villanueva’s signature, after a proposed move to Real Sociedad fell through earlier this month.

Rated as one of the hottest prospects in South America, the Chilean averaged nearly a goal every other game during his four years with Audax Italiano, scoring 50 times in 125 appearances, many of which were spectacular.

Ince said: “He’s a talented kid and the fact that we’ve only managed to get him out on loan initially says it all, because his club would have preferred to keep him.

“So we’ll see how it goes. It’s always hard when you come to a new country.

“I went through that at Inter Milan and it took me a few months to settle down.

“I don’t want to put too much expectation on the lad because it will take him time to settle in.

“But we believe we’ve got a decent player.”