Samba, the latest daddy of Ewood Park weighs in on Ronaldo and lets out the secret of his nickname King Kong

Left-back Stephen Warnock has just become the team's latest father and the birth of daughter Evie completed the set for the Rovers back four, making it seven new arrivals for the season.

Reaching Europe is the priority for Mark Hughes, a boyhood Chelsea fan out to show former boss Sir Alex Ferguson how he has grown as a manager, but a creche might soon figure on the club's 'to do' list.

Proud dads Jason Roberts and Matt Derbyshire — whose partner had twin boys — are also part of the baby boom set at Ewood Park, along with Brett Emerton, skipper Ryan Nelsen and Samba himself.

Is it something they put in the water? "I can't explain it, but it's funny," said the giant centre half.

"We seem to be celebrating every week. We don't all sit around in the dressing room talking babies, though."

Tyrone Samba arrived on New Year's Eve, 12 days late, to bring some welcome joy into a difficult campaign for his father.

Tardiness is a family trait, smiles Samba — born in Paris but qualified for Congo — while insisting it is simply the heavy morning Cheshire traffic that earns him a stern look from Hughes now and then.

Nicknamed King Kong by his team-mates — he is 6ft 4in and weighs 14st 5lb — and "The Wall" by fans, he set a remarkable standard as a £400,000 budget buy from Hertha Berlin in January, 2007, but has suffered from second season syndrome.

His uneven form led to an angry confrontation with David Dunn after he allowed Dean Ashton to turn him for the equaliser during the 2-1 defeat at West Ham last month.

He said: "It was a misunderstanding. Maybe he thought I didn't take his words seriously. You have to accept criticism, it's how you get better. But it was better sorted out in the dressing room.

"It has been difficult to stay at the same level. I've not been consistent, but it's my first full season in the Premier League and sometimes it has been difficult to pick myself up.

"It's not finished yet and we have something to achieve. I showed what I can do when I arrived and next season I will be stronger.

"The thing is not to have one or two good games then one you want to forget. I am really critical of myself. I look again on TV and see what I could have done better."

Ronaldo, inevitably, gets Samba's vote for Player of the Year as the Blackburn defender prepares to cope with his brand of lethal trickery.

Surprisingly, however, the Madeira magician is not the most difficult opponent he has faced. Samba gives it some thought.

"Peter Crouch is difficult, he has good feet. I don't know if it's because I had a hard day but Emile Heskey has been my hardest opponent. Heskey has very good timing.

"He's not easy to play against — he's quick as well and Wigan play on that. But my red card against him was very light.

"When a player throws himself down because you touch his shoulder, it's ridiculous.

"I'd prefer to be sent off for a bad tackle, not a tap on the shoulder.'

Samba suspects his size sends the wrong signal to referees who have also doled out 11 yellow cards.

"Sometimes when you challenge a smaller player it can look quite rough, even a normal challenge. A lot of my bookings could have not been bookings. I watch old games on TV and it was much, much rougher before.

But there was still a good spirit. It's what helps give the Barclays Premier League its identity.

"This game is beautiful in England. We don't have to be like Spain or France. It's tougher than Germany, more physical and quicker. People like to see tackles. You have to accept the way it is.

"Now we are playing Manchester United, the best team in the country, and that's why you play: to play the best. It is your chance to show your quality against the good teams.

"Ronaldo, Rooney and others are very good players, but it is about us. I've admired them for a long, long time. Now is not the time to admire them, but to beat them."