Blackburn Rovers star Grella: I'll wait for my big chance

9:30am Monday 8th March 2010

By Andy Cryer

VINCE Grella insists he is prepared to bide his time at Blackburn Rovers after pointing to Michel Salgado as a shining example of the virtues of patience.

Rovers’ Australian midfielder has only made eight Premier League starts this campaign, his last one in the December defeat at Tottenham, as his Rovers career continues to be ravaged by injury.

Since his £4million arrival from Torino in August 2008, Grella’s impact has been limited to just 23 league starts as a series of niggly injuries have left him frustrated.

Grella though is confident he has recovered from his recent thigh injury, and has appeared as a substitute in Rovers’ last two matches, but knows he can’t expect an instant first-team return with his team-mates in impressive form.

In Grella’s absence, Rovers have climbed to the brink of safety and ahead of Saturday’s trip to Spurs he is ready to wait for his chance - in similar fashion to Salgado.

The former Real Madrid defender struggled to make a Premier League impression after his summer arrival at Ewood Park but has started the last three games at right back to silence the critics and establish himself at Rovers.

Grella said: “I’m feeling good. I understand that it’s going to be a little more gradual getting back into the team because the team has been playing well and performing.

“It’s just good to be fit and out there. The manager knows that he can count on me for the time needed.

“Michel has been doing really well out there. He waited his turn with patience and he never lost professionalism and that is good to see from a player of such big pedigree.

“He was sometimes maybe not in the starting 11 but always training and conducting himself as a top professional.

The Aussie has also hit back at Rafa Benitez’s criticism of Rovers’ style following their 2-1 defeat at Liverpool last weekend.

The Spanish boss mocked Rovers boss Sam Allardyce and his side for their so-called ‘physical style’ but Grella has rejected his claims and insisted the Reds were worried.

“I’ve played football in Italy for a long time and to be labelled a long-ball specialist was a little bit offensive,” he said.

“I'm a little bit disappointed. I thought we had a great game against Liverpool.

"I've seen it in Liverpool's players' eyes that it was a tough game for them and they couldn't wait for the final whistle.

“We played a good game. I think we gave away that goal just before half time that let us down a little bit but it was a good performance by the team.

“I think we have also done it in the past against the big teams. It’s just a matter of getting the results.

"We’ve had some good performances against the top teams but sometimes we haven’t got the positive results that we needed.

“They won’t be easy games coming up but I can’t see why we can’t produce an upset.

Grella could feature for Blackburn Rovers reserves tonight in their game against Hull City, kick off 7pm at Ewood Park.