Sam Gallagher has failed to build on his 2013/14 breakthrough at Southampton but a loan spell with Blackburn Rovers has highlighted his quality.
If there’s one club who should be commended above all else for their approach to young players, it’s Southampton. Even this season, under another new regime, Josh Sims, Sam McQueen and Jack Stephens have forced their way into the first-team reckoning, following in the footsteps of Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, James Ward-Prowse and co.
On the flipside, however, The Saints could be about to make a rather rare mistake and let one of their talented youngsters leave too soon, The Sun report.
The publication claims that David Moyes’ Sunderland have sent scouts to watch strapping striker Sam Gallagher on loan at Blackburn Rovers and are considering an end of season swoop.
The 21-year-old has not featured for Southampton since his breakthrough 2013/14 season, mostly due to a devastating knee injury and a goalless loan spell with MK Dons.
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However, half a season at Ewood Park has offered a timely reminder of his potential, Gallagher scoring 10 times in 25 games for a side entrenched in a relegation battle.
Meanwhile, his aerial presence, impressive technique and ‘good touch for a big man’ are all traits that would surely translate well into the top tier – especially as only Hull City and Middlesbrough have scored fewer than a Southampton side recently shorn of top scorer Charlie Austin.
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A January arrival, and debut goal, for Manolo Gabbiadini offers a degree of hope but with Jay Rodriguez linked with a move away and Austin suffering an injury hit start to his career on the south Coast, the Saints could do worse than to give Gallagher a second chance to march into the first-team plans.
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