Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce believes midfielder Vince Grella still has plenty of improvement to come. The former Torino man has struggled in his first season in the Premier League, mainly due to injury, but Allardyce is confident the 29-year old can be influential at Ewood Park once he finds full fitness.

"We said we wouldn't throw Vince back in as quickly as we have in the past, and we've been good enough to resist the temptation to make sure he feels 100 per cent fit," Allardyce said.

"Obviously from a match-fitness point of view he's still a little short but his game against Wigan will lift him because not only did he play a big part in our victory, he came off without any injuries.

"He knows how difficult the Premier League is physically. We've not seen the best of his passing abilities yet and the fitter he gets and the more he copes with the pace, the more we'll see his outstanding passing moves."