BLACKBURN defender Lucas Neill believes Paul Gallagher has taken his first major step on the road to stardom after breaking his Premiership scoring duck.

The teenage striker netted his first ever top flight goal in the 4-0 demolition of Birmingham on Saturday.

And Neill has predicted it will be the first of many for the talented 19-year-old who has made a huge impression on his team-mates since breaking into the first team squad.

"I was delighted for Gally on Saturday, especially with him being a local lad," said Neill.

"I thought he had missed his chance when he had one near the end so I was glad when he got another and scored.

"He'll just come on in leaps and bounds now after that. He's a great player and although he's still young, he's already looking very comfortable in the squad when we train.

"And, like I've said, the confidence he will gain from scoring will only help him to keep going even further."

Gallagher has started the last two games, which has coincided with Rovers winning back-to-back games in the Premiership for the first time this season.

He pulled out of the Scotland squad for tonight's friendly game against Turkey in Dundee after jarring his knee in training.

Now Rovers are hoping he will shake off the injury in time for the Arsenal clash on Sunday.

Neill believes the team may now have turned the corner following a desperately disappointing opening three months to the season, the low point of which was a 2-0 defeat at Leicester which plunged the club into the Premiership's bottom two.

"That was the one that woke us up," said Neill. "All the lads were down but we all said that we were good enough not to be in the situation that we were in so we all talked about how we were going to approach the games mentally and stick at it.

"There was also talk of the gaffer leaving at the time but we all dug deep and fought and it turned out to be a good lesson because we've since shown some great character."

"We've also fine-tuned a few things and our mental approach to games is a lot better now.

"We haven't been embarrassed in any games as yet and I think we've become more competitive so I think you'll see us on a steady climb up the table."

That ascent up the table has already begun thanks to wins over Tottenham and Birmingham and Neill points to Rovers' new-found defensive resolve as the main reason for the team's change in fortunes.

"When you know you've got your defenders battling and fighting for everything, that gives you more confidence to go forward and try and nick a goal," said Neill, who performed magnificently in a new left-midfield role on Saturday.

"Craig Short has been instrumental in that because since he's been back, he's been our most important player.

"Sometimes he doesn't get enough credit, but you always know that when he's playing, you are always going to get 100 per cent and that's the best thing you can ask for - commitment."

Rovers reserves travel to West Brom tonight, with the match, played at Kidderminster Harriers FC, kicking off at 7pm.