Sam Allardyce set to hand striker Nikola Kalinic his Blackburn debut

New Blackburn striker Nikola Kalinic is set to make his debut in next week's Carling Cup second round tie at Gillingham. The Croatian is today training with his team-mates for the first time after securing a work permit and visa and manager Sam Allardyce is keen to get him up to speed after the former Hadjuk Split forward missed most of pre-season. However, the 21-year-old will not be rushed into Barclays Premier League action and the Rovers boss plans to give him a run-out against the League One side a week tomorrow. 'Kalinic will probably play at Gillingham at the earliest," Allardyce told the Lancashire Telegraph. We will have a look at him and bring him on slowly.'