Gallagher Looking Forward To His Last Chance

Paul Gallagher knows that thi is the last chance to make his mark at Blackburn or he will be forced to move on PERMANENTLY.

The Blackburn striker has been in good form this pre-season as he attempts to make the most of the chance handed to him by boss Sam Allardyce.

The Scottish academy graduate is amazingly Rovers` longest serving player, having made his debut in 2002 but has been on more loan spells than VBer Bom Bom has had hot dinners.

But it all looked to be over for Gally when Sam Allardyce announced he was going to listen to offers for Paul before shipping out on his now mandatory loan to Plymouth in January.

But with Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts the only strikers at the club at a senior level - Paul has got his chance.

Gallagher speaking to the LET said - "It has come as a big surprise that I am still here this summer. When I was at Plymouth I never spoke to Sam Allardyce, I didn`t know what he thought of me and then the next thing I saw was on Sky Sports saying the club would listen to offers for me.

"I thought that was it. It was time to move on and I really believed I was going to have to move away to further my career.

"Things happen in football though. Suddenly a couple of strikers have left and I have the chance to show what I can do in pre-season. If I can score a few goals, and show the manager what I am capable of, then hopefully I have a long future here after all.

"If I can play first-team football at Blackburn then I would be happy as Larry, but If I can`t then I will have to move on and maybe take a step backwards to actually progress in my career."

Paul also took some time to reflect on his Rovers career so far.

He continued - "When I was playing first team football at Rovers I was enjoying it, Graeme Souness was the manager and he gave me the confidence to play the way I wanted to play.

"Other managers did have not have faith in me. They wanted to play the players they had spent money on, the big-name players, rather than give the younger players a chance.

"Souness didn`t care about that. It was incredible really. He was playing me and Jon Stead ahead of the likes of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke - these players have won the Premier League and Champions League.

"I am not going to get carried away at the moment, after all I have been here before haven`t I? If I can get back playing for Blackburn I would be really happy but I am not looking further ahead than the next training session."

"Hopefully this pre-season, I can get my head down, work hard, score a few goals and earn a longer chance," he said. "I feel fitter than I ever have done and ready to show what I can do.

"I think this is my last chance. Every pre-season here I believe I have done quite well, previous managers have said I have done well, but end up not playing me.

"That has got me disappointed and my head starts telling me it is time to move on. I think I have done enough to be playing here over the years. This really could be my last chance though."

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