Kalinic Will Come Good - Allardyce

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce is backing new striker Nikola Kalinic to hit the goal trail very soon and will start him tonight due to a lack of other options and to build his confidence.

The Carling Cup second round tie had been the match that Sam wanted to blood the new £6 million man in but as it turned out he was needed at Sunderland - for a full 80 minutes.

But the Croat failed to find the net despite finding himself in three great scoring positions - maybe a sign of nerves.

And with on-loan striker Franco Di Santo out with a hamstring problem and Benni McCarthy also doubtful with an ankle problem, Kalinic will be playing tonight and will have chances to get off the mark.

Allardyce, speaking to Sky Sports said - 'They (commentators) were talking about the disappointment of (Manchester United striker) Michael Owen missing chances against Birmingham and Burnley and raving about the fantastic chance he took against Wigan,'

'We have had our striker come on a lot earlier than we wanted to (against Sunderland) but were playing that well at the time we thought he could go on and get a taste of it and hopefully get an opportunity to score - of which he did about three.

'It is a good positive thing that, in his first game before we wanted to play him, he got three opportunities to score a goal in the Premier League.

'Sadly for him and us he mis-timed his strike on all three occasions but he got in there and if he continues to get in there, from what I have seen, there is no doubt that those chances will turn into goals.

'I hope it doesn't worry him too much. He's in the squad because of Benni and Franco's injuries so we'll be looking to give him some minutes there.'

If Kalinic does start tonight I think this is the perfect chance for him to score his first Rovers goal and restore his confidence after his misfortune at the weekend.

Come on Nikola - you can do it buddy!

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