Sam Allardyce will give veteran Italian Christian Vieri all the
time he needs to prove he is worth a contract at Blackburn.
The 36-year-old former Azzurri striker impressed Rovers'
coaching staff during a training camp in Austria last week, and
will link up with the squad again when they arrive in his homeland
on tour.
Vieri could feature against Roma tomorrow before two 45-minute
games against Split and Maritimo in Croatia on Saturday. He will
then be invited back to Blackburn's Brockhall training base to give
him a chance to show he can cut it in the English top flight.
Boss Allardyce, out to replace Roque Santa Cruz after his
departure for Manchester City, said: "Vieri will follow us on to
the next session away, which starts on Wednesday, then join up with
us back here.
"Obviously, he is way behind the rest of the players and we will
be very patient and supportive with him.
"We'll see how long he wants to give it to see if he can get to
the level he needs to play in the Premier League.
"If he manages that, what a player. We will decide together, me
and him. We will take as long as it needs, hopefully to get there
in the end."
Vieri has been without a club since leaving Serie A outfit
Atalanta at the end of last season.
But Rovers defender Stephen Warnock already reckons the ex-Inter
Milan and Juventus star is worth a deal.
Warnock said: "He proved last week at the training camp he has
the ability to finish out of nowhere.
"He is a very strong player and very awkward to play against. He
could be a good addition to the squad. I don't think he is too old
to play in the Premier League at all."
soccernet.
