OWEN Coyle says young Sam Gallagher can follow in the footsteps of Daniel Sturridge and Benik Afobe in developing into a top striker - but he’s not the finished article just yet.

The 21-year-old scored both goals in the 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night to lift Rovers out of the bottom three for only the second time this season.

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That took Gallagher’s tally to five since he arrived on a season-long loan from Southampton in August.

And Coyle, who took England ace Sturridge and Bournemouth hitman Afobe under his wing during his spell in charge of Bolton Wanderers, believes he can help the youngster develop his talents even further.

The Rovers manager said: “I’ve been an admirer of Gallagher for years and we had to work hard to get him here.

“He had the loan spell last year (at MK Dons) but it didn’t go well for him because it came on the back of the bad injury he had.

“I felt we could impart some knowledge and experience that we’ve picked up.

“I’ve had some very good strikers that have come to me. We managed to help Daniel (Sturridge), Benik Afobe, (Marc) Albrighton for a spell - very good attacking players.

“I said to Sam I felt he was in that mould of those players, that he can continue to develop.

“He’s not the finished article, but he’s willing to listen, learn, you see the pace he’s got and he can score goals.

“He’s not ready yet but I think in time he’s going to be a very good player.”

Gallagher has made 14 appearances for Rovers since his switch from the south coast and built up a promising partnership with fellow loan man Marvin Emnes, one which has kept high-profile pair Danny Graham and Anthony Stokes out of the side.

Coyle admits he wishes he had more time to work alongside the promising youngster, but he is pleased with how the player has reacted to the challenge of playing for a club at the wrong end of the Championship table.

“He’s one we’ve got for the season - I wish we had him permanently because we can really improve him and help him,” Coyle added.

“But the person who deserves the most credit is Sam because he’s the one, the same as all those boys I mentioned before, when they cross the white line they’re the ones that have to deliver on it.

“We can pass on knowledge, but they’re the ones that have to go and deliver and that kid’s been doing it.

“Of course, with young players you get little dips here and there, and that’s obviously why we have Emnes and Danny Graham’s on his way back from injury.

“We’ve now got Stokes back too, but those two have been playing well and Anthony’s had to be patient on the bench for his chance.”

Gallagher took most of the plaudits for the midweek win, with stand-in centre-half Darragh Lenihan and Ben Marshall also catching the eye.

But Coyle was also thankful to the home supporters who turned out in appalling weather and created a decent atmosphere at Ewood Park, especially when their side were on top in the first half.

“I’d said after the game on Saturday that it was important the players gave the fans something to shout about in terms of the quality of play,” he said.

“They did that, but I’ve got to say the fans were right behind them.

“They were vocal all night and even at 2-1, that was an important bit because the fans got behind the players at that difficult moment, which it could have been.

“So I would like to say a big thank you to the fans because it really helped the team.”

He added: “That’s the atmosphere we want at Ewood Park.

“I remember coming here and the atmosphere was electric.

“Obviously there’s things that have gone on in the last five or six years, we get that.

“But we can only control what we do on the field and the backing of the fans when we’re on there is a huge help to the players.”