Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has tipped Socceroos star Brett Emerton to bury his injury woes and bounce back to his brilliant best in the coming Premier League season.
Emerton, 31, spent nine months sidelined with a crippling knee injury last year and found opportunities limited as he worked to cement his place back in the squad.
But Allardyce, who arrived in Australia on Saturday ahead of the pre-season Sydney Festival of Football featuring Sydney FC, Rangers and AEK Athens, believed Emerton was ready to rediscover his best form despite the mental scarring from his cruciate ligament injury.
“It’s been frustrating for Brett but I think this season is going to be one where he will show his full potential yet again,” Allardyce told AAP.
“I do think that the trauma of an injury that big at his age mentally shocked him.
“But it certainly hasn’t from a physical point of view and I think he’s never been as physically fit as he is now.
“This year, hopefully all those injuries are put to one side and he’ll come and blossom through because we need him in the team.”
Allardyce said Emerton and fellow Socceroo Vince Grella could play bit parts in Sunday’s match against Rangers but were more likely to get more game time in the matches against Athens (Wednesday) and Sydney (Saturday).
Amid recent speculation both Australians could be leaving Rovers, Allardyce said he was happy with his squad and would not be looking to sell.
However, he did not completely rule out losing Grella in particular if “the price is right.”
Grella was linked with a move to join Harry Kewell and Lucas Neill at Turkish club Galatasaray but Allardyce said talks fell through.
“It depends like anything, Blackburn Rovers will ultimately sell anybody if the price is right because we’re a selling football club,” Allardyce said.
“We sold players last year to the tune of 33 million pounds ($A56.31 million), but we don’t have to do that now so unless the right price and it’s good for the club, we won’t be looking at it.”
Grella’s time at the club has also been injury-riddled but Allardyce was confident of an improved season should he remain at the club.
“He’s been working very hard on a program on his own,” he said.
“We hope he’s over that now, he’s back here fit again and we hope he shows the sort of form he showed in Italy.”
Sunday’s opening day of the festival at the Sydney Football Stadium will see Sydney FC host Greek side Athens prior to Blackburn’s clash with Scottish powerhouse Rangers.
All teams have brought strong teams to Australia as they approach the start of their respective seasons.
Sydney coach Vitezslav Lavicka said it was unlikely his new marquee signing Nick Carle would play in his side’s opening match as he recovers from a hamstring problem.
Athens’ line-up could feature former Adelaide United star Nathan Burns, who signed with the club in 2008.
“A lot of family and friends haven’t seen me play for two years,” Burns said.
“This is a good chance for my career … it’s a new generation, the World Cup’s over, so it’s a chance to show how much I’ve improved over the last two years.”
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