Blackburn Rovers have been proven right over big Sam Gallagher call: View | OneFootball

Sam Gallagher was a wanted man in January, with the Blackburn Rovers forward rumoured to be the target of a £2 million offer from Ipswich Town, with the Tractor Boys keen to offer the striker a three-year deal at Portman Road.

With negotiations progressing steadily, Rovers pulled the plug at the eleventh hour as deadline day approached, after their advances for Orlando City forward Duncan McGuire collapsed due to issues with paperwork.

But that admin error seems to have worked in John Eustace’s favour, with Gallagher finding the net in three of his last five games in all competitions, including their second goal in a 2-2 draw with Preston North End at the weekend.

With their status as a Championship club still hanging in the balance this year - with just five points separating the former Premier League champions and the drop zone - Gallagher staying put at Ewood Park could be the difference between second and third tier football next season.

Blackburn Rovers' season so far

It has been something of a topsy-turvy season in BB2, with Jon Dahl Tomasson seeing his side drop down the table as the New Year approached, with just two wins in twelve league games before his messy departure from the club earlier in the month.

Former Birmingham City boss Eustace was appointed to the role just 45 minutes after the Dane had been shown the door, with the 44-year-old tasked with turning the ship around at Ewood Park, as relegation candidates begin to pick up points.

There have been glimpses of quality on the pitch for the blue and white side, with Sammie Szmodics notching 18 times in the league to top the scoring charts six months into the season, while 19-year-old Adam Wharton’s stellar performances in the middle of the park were rewarded with a move to Premier League side Crystal Palace.

How Sam Gallagher will help Blackburn Rovers stay in the Championship this season

With Szmodics finding the back of the net for fun this season, Gallagher’s task will be made all the more easier with his fellow frontman drawing attention at the top of the pitch.

The former Plymouth Argyle man’s understanding with his strike partner seems to be developing all the time; you only have to look at his two delicate touches to slot Szmodics in at Deepdale on Saturday to see how his link play gels this Rovers side together.

He won’t always be the most prolific in front of goal - 52 goals in 274 career league appearances says as much - but a selfless striker such as Gallagher can be worth their weight in gold.

He will always put in those hard yards, making life tough for the defenders he is coming up against, and when you are facing a scrap for survival he is exactly the sort of man you want in your corner, and it seems like his new boss knows that too.

Eustace’s style of play has been known to be more direct than his predecessor, and that will work into Gallagher’s hands, with his aerial prowess and neat linkup play two of his most powerful assets.

After more than two months out with a calf injury as 2023 turned into 2024, Gallagher seems to be set on making up for lost time with his return to action, and as he regains more match fitness it will be no surprise to see him spearhead a Rovers resurgence in the next few months.

Ipswich are no mugs in this division when it comes to recruitment, and they were prepared to put their money where their mouth was to bring the striker to Portman Road, which speaks volumes in itself.