AIYEGBENI Yakubu has tipped team-mate Fabio Rochemback to make a massive impression on the Premiership after admitting his first season at Portsmouth was hampered by the same settling in problems that have been holding the Brazilian back.

Rochemback, who has struggled to find his form since a summer move from Sporting Lisbon, produced his finest performance in a Middlesbrough shirt during Saturday's 3-0 win over Chelsea.

After months of relative anonymity, the former Barcelona playmaker finally rediscovered the midfield artistry that had persuaded Boro to shell out £3.5m in the summer and turned in a dazzling display that was capped by his first goal for the club.

Rochemback has struggled to settle into the English style of play but, according to Yakubu, that is hardly a surprise.

The Nigerian scored seven goals during his first season at Portsmouth and, while that represents an acceptable tally, his move from Israeli side Maccabi Haifa was hardly seamless.

Adapting to the Premiership took time and the striker feels Rochemback must also be given the opportunity to find his feet in the English game.

"When you see foreign players coming to England you know it can take them quite a while to settle," said Yakubu, who grabbed his 16th goal of the season in Saturday's surprise win. "Quite often it can take three or four months and, sometimes, it can take a whole season.

"When I look back to my first season in English football, I have to admit it was difficult for me as well.

"I came to Portsmouth and the football was very different to anything I had been used to, but I kept playing and working hard.

"Eventually, it all came good. I got better with every game and I am sure the same will be true for Fabio.

"Whenever I watch him in training, I find some of the things he can do totally unbelievable.

"He has so much talent and he has shown he is a brave player as well because he has kept on doing the things he wants to do in the games.

"With time he will improve even more, although I don't think he can improve too much on what we saw against Chelsea."

While Rochemback's midfield prompting caught the eye, it was Yakubu's all-action attacking play that did most to unsettle Chelsea's champions.

Asked to play as a lone centre-forward, the 23-year-old produced a match-winning display that allied brute force to ball-playing finesse.

Middlesbrough's supporters might have criticised Steve McClaren's 4-5-1 formation in the past but, after embarrassing both John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho on Saturday, Yakubu has declared himself a fan of his solitary striker role.

"It reminded me of a lot of the games I used to play at Portsmouth," he said.

"I played up front by myself a lot down there and I had to do the kind of things that I did against Chelsea.

"I am used to it and when the manager told me I would be doing that again I was delighted. I am confident I can play in that role and be a success.

"If you are doing that, you have to be willing to work. You cannot be waiting for the other strikers to do something for you because they are not there.

"It is difficult but, as long as you keep working, I don't think it's a problem."

Yakubu turned down the chance of an appearance in the African Nations Cup in order to assist Boro's attempt to stave off relegation while fighting on two fronts in both the UEFA and FA Cups.

The Nigerian insists he remains committed to his country, but claims Saturday's success makes his difficult decision worthwhile.

"I turned down the chance to play for my country and it is not an easy thing to do," said Yakubu.

"I love playing for my country but there were reasons for my decision and now they are all in the past.

"It is not really a case of justifying that decision, but a win like this definitely helps.

"Sometimes you have to make hard decisions and stick by them. I am confident that the decision I made was the right one for me and the right one for Boro."

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