BULLISH Blackburn boss Mark Hughes today hailed the role Paul Gallagher has played in Rovers' recent revival.

Gallagher has scored in each of his last two appearances to help stretch Rovers' impressive unbeaten run to five matches in the Premiership.

The 20-year-old marked his first team comeback with a priceless equaliser in last week's thrilling 3-3 draw against Birmingham.

Then on Saturday against Fulham, Gallagher's 10th minute goal launched Rovers on their way to a first away victory in seven months.

Now Hughes insists the Scotland striker has forced his way up the pecking order on the strength of his last two appearances and he's predicting a bright future ahead for the former Academy starlet.

"Gally has done a great job," said Hughes, who picked Gallagher in his starting eleven for the first time at Craven Cottage.

"He's had to wait patiently for his chance because he was very much down the list, in all honesty.

"But circumstances dictated that he got his opportunity last week (against Birmingham) and he scored a goal and made an impact so I didn't have a problem picking him again on Saturday because I knew he would do a job.

"I'm pleased for him and I thought he was excellent against Fulham.

"He's an intelligent footballer, he makes good angled runs, he makes space for himself, and he can finish.

"In fact, he's one of the best finishers at the club."

Gallagher was surprisingly omitted from Hughes' first team plans when the Welshman initially succeeded Graeme Souness as Rovers' new manager.

There was talk at one point of Gallagher going out on loan and Championship rivals Sunderland and Cardiff City both expressed an interest in taking him.

However, injuries to Jon Stead, Matt Jansen and Youri Djorkaeff, coupled with the suspension of Jay Bothroyd, have since opened the door for the young Scot to return to the first team and he's repaid Hughes's faith with two goals in his last two starts.

In the meantime, Hughes has dismissed talk that Djorkaeff's hamstring injury has jeopardised his chances of being offered an extended deal.

"It's unfortunate that Youri's injured because we could do with his experience and knowledge of the game," said Hughes.

"Hopefully, he'll back sooner rather than later because we miss his guile and there's times in games when we need that.

"As for his contract, his deal runs out in January and we will look at it then."

Djorkaeff's current contract with Rovers runs out at the end of next month.

Meanwhile, Hughes has admitted he's enjoying life as a club manager, despite Rovers' present league position.

The 41-year-old often found life frustrating as the manager of Wales, particularly when it came to implementing new ideas.

However, at Rovers the club have been quick to give Hughes their full backing and everything he's asked for so far, the board have given him.

"That's the really stimulating thing for me," said Hughes, whose first act as manager was to introduce ProZone - a video-based coaching tool - at the club.

"I came from a job where the decision making was very slow and very laboured and that was the frustrating thing for me.

"But I've come into a club environment and had great support from everybody, especially the board of directors.

"Everything I've asked for, they've given me so in comparison to my last job it's like chalk and cheese."

Rovers' reserves are in action against Sunderland at Morecambe's Christie Park ground tonight (kick-off 7pm).