Allardyce gives Italian stallion Vieri plenty of time for Premier League's physical challenge

14 July 2009 11:55
Former Italy striker Christian Vieri has been given extra time by Blackburn Rovers after the much-travelled striker impressed in his initial week's trial. Vieri, 36, has played for - among others - Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and Lazio as well as scoring 22 goals in 46 games during his eight-year international career. Allardyce believes Vieri's physical style is suited to the Barclays Premier League and will give the player as much time as needed to prove his credentials. Vieri is set to play against AS Roma on Thursday night before two 45-minute games against Split and Maritimo in Croatia on Saturday. Allardyce said: 'Vieri will follow on to the next session away, which starts on Wednesday. 'He will join up with us then, then he will join up with us back here. From what the lads said in Austria, he did the work as best he could. 'Obviously he is way behind the rest of the players and we will be very patient and very supportive to see how long he wants to go to see if he can get to the level he needs to to play in the Premier League. 'If he manages that - what a player. We will decide together, between me and him. However long it takes, we will take as long as it needs to to hopefully get there in the end.' Vieri spent much of his childhood in Australia and names Allan Border as the sportsman he most admires.

Source: Daily_Mail