SUPER-SUB Ryan Tunnicliffe is determined to take a leaf out of his hero Steven Gerrard’s book and add more goals to his game – after the first of his career left Blackburn Rovers in upbeat mood ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Rotherham United.

Tunnicliffe capped a courageous and thrilling fight back from Rovers when he stepped off the bench to head in their brilliant equaliser in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Watford at an enraptured Ewood Park.

And having broken his duck at the 75th attempt the former Manchester United midfielder, 21, has now set his sights on finishing the season with at least five goals to his name.

“It was my first senior goal so I’m obviously delighted to get off the mark,” said Greater Manchester-born Tunnicliffe, who admits Gerrard is his ‘idol’ despite the fact that he plays for United’s bitter rivals Liverpool.

“I’ve had seven clubs, though a few of them were only a month’s loan, but I’m delighted to get it going.

“When the cross came in I was thinking, ‘I am going to miss it’ to be fair! Everything went through my head at that split second – ‘am I going to hit the bar? What’s going to happen? I need to get my head on this’.

“But I didn’t miss, I’m delighted we got the point and me scoring was great.

“I’ve tried adding goalscoring to my game this year, making runs from midfield, because I’m quite fast and powerful.

“If I set off midfielders might not be able to stay with me and I did that on Saturday as I ran past my man and was unmarked.

“I’m going to have to start getting it into my game even more as all the great midfielders score goals, whether it be five or 10 a season.”

Tunnicliffe may have earned Rovers the draw they deserved.

But it probably left his father – who won £10,000 after his son made his debut for United in 2012, having placed a £100 bet that he would one day play for the Old Trafford outfit at the odds of 100-1 – out of pocket.

“My dad usually has a bet on me but I think all the money he’s wasted over the years he probably didn’t bother today,” said Tunnicliffe, who is on a season-long loan at Rovers from Championship rivals Fulham.

“He spends fivers upon fivers every year!

“As soon it hit the back of the net I just set off running and then after about five seconds I remembered my family were in the stand so I ran over to them.

“I was delighted to score and for it to be the equaliser made it even better.”

Tunnicliffe will be pushing to make his full Rovers debut in tomorrow’s Rotherham clash.

And the summer transfer deadline day arrival insists Gary Bowyer’s battling side will head to the New York Stadium with confidence high.

“We were a bit disappointed we didn’t win on Saturday,” said Tunnicliffe, who has had previous loan spells in the Championship with Peterborough United, Barnsley, Ipswich Town and Wigan Athletic.

“That may sound crazy after being 2-0 down but again the lads showed great character, we piled it on in the second half and I do think we were unlucky not to get three points.”