WHEN the news spread that Christian Vieri was on trial with Blackburn Rovers, you could hear the sniggering among the masses.

“Sam’s at it again, chasing another has-been,” was the response.

Burnley’s Owen Coyle is renowned for signing Scots and Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman is partial to the odd Scouser, but Rovers manager Sam Allardyce has gained a reputation for pulling in ageing stars from every weird and wonderful corner of the globe.

He was pretty much forced to do as much, because returning to his roots – as the other two have done – would have unearthed a positive dearth of talent.

Apart from the notable exception of the greatest of all the Busby Babes, Duncan Edwards, Allardyce’s home town of Dudley has produced little apart from former Liverpool left back David Burrows and Lenny Henry.

There was a rumour that Dudley citizens were renowned for pace, until it was discovered that was in fact Norman Pace from Hale and Pace.

Vieri just about the fits the bill as the stereotypical Sam Allardyce target, and that is why he should not be written off as over the hill quite yet – even if he does turn 36 tomorrow.

For every Mario Jardel – the laughably rotund former Brazilian marksman – there was a Youri Djorkaeff in Big Sam’s successful period in charge at Bolton.

It must be said that, even at his very peak, Vieri flirted dangerously with the status of laughing stock.

Italians will remember his misses in the 2002 World Cup clash against South Korea as much as his 23 international goals.

But his name has always carried with it a certain aura, a knowledge that he will score goals. He may need five chances to do it, but chances very often come Vieri’s way. That is no accident.

Vieri’s hunger to play in the Premier League was such that he badgered Blackburn Rovers for several days before they eventually changed their mind and agreed to give him a trial in Austria.

Injuries hampered him last season at Atalanta, but in the previous campaign at Fiorentina he scored nine goals and still retained an obvious sharpness in the penalty area.

Allardyce has always received criticism for the pursuit of these supposed ‘foreign mercenaries’, but the truth is they have generally provided excitement and results.

He may yet decide Vieri is not worth the risk but, providing his wages justify the odd start and a role from the bench, the Italian might just be the option they need.