ON-LOAN striker Sam Gallagher could have played his way into today’s starting line-up after impressing Blackburn Rovers boss Owen Coyle with his cameo at Cardiff City.

The Southampton starlet, who is at Ewood Park on a season-long loan, came off the bench to replace Anthony Stokes after 62 minutes against the Bluebirds.

He set up Danny Graham’s goal with a clever flick-on and impressed his new manager with his all-round display.

Coyle said: “Sam did very well. He threatens in behind because he’s got pace and he’s prepared to run with the ball, and gives us another dimension.

“He’s really put himself in the firing line to try to start the game on Saturday, which is great because you want that youthful enthusiasm and quality, which is what Sam has.

“That’s why we brought him to the club.”

At 20, Gallagher has his career ahead of him, but he has already chalked up some decent experience, including 18 Premier League appearances with the Saints.

He has been through some tough times since then, however, with his father Richard passing away in February 2014 and then suffering a serious knee injury.

Coyle was delighted that the 6ft 4in striker chose Rovers over a number of other offers, and says he has the ‘bit between his teeth’ to prove his talent.

“If you look at young Sam’s career, he came in and played 18 games in the Premier League and he was a huge prospect,” said the Rovers boss, whose side host Burton Albion this afternoon.

“But then he had a really bad injury and with young players sometimes that takes time (to recover from).

“He obviously had one or two things to deal with in terms of his father passing away, which can be challenging for any young man something like that.

“But I think he’s shown now that he’s got the bit between his teeth, he’s determined to come into Blackburn Rovers and show he’s a good player.

“If he carries on in the manner that he did the other night, that can only help us moving forward.

“I was really pleased with how he went about it and we know he’s a good kid.

“He had various offers to go elsewhere but he wanted to come here and be part of what we’re trying to do, and I think you’ve seen that the other night.

“He played a part in the goal, but I was delighted with his all-round performance and that’s why we brought him here.

“He’s a young player. He’s quick, he’s exciting, a great knock-on for Danny’s goal - and it was great to get Danny up and running.

“We know we’ve got goalscorers, but equally we know we’ve got to tighter against the ball for the goals, if truth be told, we’ve gifted.

“There’s been a couple of really good individual goals against, but in the main we’ve gifted most of those goals.

“But we do have goalscorers.”