Returning Rover can make an impact (From Lancashire Telegraph)
When news happens, text LT and your photos and videos to 80360. Or contact us by email or phone.
Returning Rover can make an impact
7:50am Friday 19th October 2012 in Sport
By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter
DAVID Goodwillie’s Blackburn Rovers’ nightmare shows no short term sign of coming to an end – but caretaker boss Eric Black insists he can still be a hit at Ewood Park.
The Scottish international made a surprise Rovers return earlier this week, after cutting short a loan spell at Championship rivals Crystal Palace, but is now left facing more than two months in the wilderness due to the terms of his Eagles switch.
The 23-year-old will be forced to watch Rovers’ trip to Derby County tomorrow from the sidelines, as well the next 14 Championship games after that, after it was stipulated he could play for no other club during his four month temporary stay at Palace.
Black though insists no one is to blame for Goodwillie’s latest set back, with him left on the fringes of things at Selhurst Park, and believes it was best for everyone for him to return to East Lancashire.
He said: “He went to Crystal Palace and felt that was his opportunity to play. For whatever reasons that has not happened and it can be a lonely place London. He is away from his family and is still a young boy so I don’t think anyone should point any fingers.
“I don’t blame him, I don’t blame the manager at Crystal Palace. It is just one of those things that it hasn’t worked out for him and it was best to come back.
“This is not an unusual occurrence, it can happen. He is unsettled and he and us have decided in the best interests we bring him back and Crystal Palace have agreed and we are comfortable with that.”
Goodwillie has struggled to make any sort of impression in English football after sealing a switch to Rovers from Dundee United for in the region of £2million in August 2011.
He arrived a fully fledged Scottish international and with a good scoring record in Scotland behind him but has been left kicking his heels almost ever since arriving in England.
“It has not started for him,” said Black. “Having worked with him last year, he never complained once. He did everything he possibly could to have a case of saying he could have had an opportunity. That is always an opinion thing.
“He never complained. He wanted to play football, that is all he wanted to do and it is a fabulous character for a player to have.
“Without a doubt he can still be a hit here and in English football. He scored three goals in three games when we were in the Premier League last season.
“He can contribute and I would have loved to have him available, but we don’t. What we have to focus on now is re-intergrating him into training and trying to get a few friendlies for him so come January he is not too far removed from what is required.”
Meanwhile Derby County boss Nigel Clough expects Rovers to be challenging for an instant Premier League return come the end of the season – despite a recent four-match winless streak taking them to outside the play off positions.
“More than anything now, they need to settle on and off the pitch,” said Clough.
“They have had not a bad start to the Championship among all the furore that has gone off.
“I think they are unbeaten away from home so far, so it has been a reasonable start. They will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.”
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (24)
8:21am Fri 19 Oct 12
bburnrover says...
8:48am Fri 19 Oct 12
eddyo says...
*
As for Lowe, his number of metres run in a game must be 'awesome' - it's a pity he is hasn't worked out the ball part of his game yet. He will run all day but on the ball he makes David Batty look like Iniesta.
*
As it stands, both players aren't good enough.
8:50am Fri 19 Oct 12
Is Eckersley playing? says...
9:12am Fri 19 Oct 12
Captain Dreckley says...
9:14am Fri 19 Oct 12
glp says...
9:29am Fri 19 Oct 12
J.C - Rishton says...
He can't play for 3 months because he was "home-sick" ??? - I bet he's still geting his £20K a week though.
I bet he wouldnt have come back from London early if he had to go without his pay for 14 weeks - Rovers should refuse to pay him !!!!!!!
9:39am Fri 19 Oct 12
midas says...
9:58am Fri 19 Oct 12
dangerous dave says...
OUT WITH BLACK HENDRY SINGH AGNEW SHAW VENKEYS
10:28am Fri 19 Oct 12
greenscreener says...
10:28am Fri 19 Oct 12
roverfor60years says...
10:31am Fri 19 Oct 12
speedie_rovers_legend says...
10:42am Fri 19 Oct 12
speedie_rovers_legend says...
12:05pm Fri 19 Oct 12
roverfor60years says...
12:53pm Fri 19 Oct 12
greenscreener says...
I guess Kevin Gallagher isn't one of your Facebook friends then.
2:04pm Fri 19 Oct 12
MxMave says...
The idiot Kean decided CKR was a better prospect that Goodwillie to play upfront and loaned him out, THAT is the reason for the current predicament, not Goodie being homesick or Palace not wanting him. CKR is not even 10% of the player Goodwillie is.
Play Goodwillie with Rhodes in a 2 man strike force for 90 mins and see Rovers attacking prowess increase tenfold.
3:21pm Fri 19 Oct 12
dallydally says...
3:41pm Fri 19 Oct 12
stick to football says...
The way Rovers have played over the last 18 months - no one has beena stand out player - end of story and the reason for that is obvious
3:47pm Fri 19 Oct 12
speedie_rovers_legend says...
4:05pm Fri 19 Oct 12
greenscreener says...
5:21pm Fri 19 Oct 12
Arthur Labore says...
3:03am Sat 20 Oct 12
RespectTheK-Dog says...
He must be good then....
3:08am Sat 20 Oct 12
RespectTheK-Dog says...
So it's alright really, nae bother
10:15am Sat 27 Oct 12
Bill Carson says...
10:26am Sat 27 Oct 12
Bill Carson says...
I protested, I marched and boycotted to rid the club of SK, now I'm back. The only thing that disappoints me is that many have failed to return...