SAM Allardyce believes Steven Reid possesses a rare Premier League quality but warns the midfielder still faces a slow journey back to full fitness.

Reid made his first Premier League start since September 2008 in yesterday's crucial 2-0 win at home to Fulham – lasting almost 70 minutes – to help Rovers end a 12-match winless run and move them to 12th in the table.

The Irishman will be desperate to re-establish himself as a first team regular, after battling back from a serious knee injury, with his contract expiring in the summer, but Allardyce insists Reid won't be rushed back into the fray prematurely.

Goals in each half from Chris Samba and Ryan Nelsen earned Allardyce his 100th Premier League win and helped ease the growing discontent from the Ewood Park faithful.

The Rovers boss said: “I almost saw Steven shaking his head when he came off because I know he wants to play games. We all want him back to his best.

“He is the the type of player that is rare today. One that wins the ball and goes and tackles players.

"Even though the game is trying to outlaw tackling it is still what we like to see.

“He is a little bit short at the moment, his timing is a little bit off, but as he continues to come back we will see the Reidy of old hopefully.”

An injury-haunted last few years has seen Reid, 28, miss almost two entire seasons in the last three, leading to some writing him off.

Allardyce though believes yesterday's display showed what he still has to offer and insists the midfielder can only get better for the remainder of the season.

He said: “It has been a long time and a long arduous journey for him.

"Hopefully we can nurture him back into the Steven Reid we all know.

“It was great to see him back and he can only grow from here as long as we can get him fit to be selected and we nurture him into the team on a basis of making sure when he does play he doesn't get himself injured and not playing him too much.

“Great to see him back and we will try to build him up slowly.

"He went to QPR and got injured playing two games in a week so we will build him up slowly, like we did with Dunny and Benni.

“Hopefully we will see the benefit of him until the end of the season.”