BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes could be ready to bring back Paul Gallagher for Saturday's trip to the City of Manchester Stadium.

Jay Bothroyd's sending off against Norwich at the weekend may have opened the door for Gallagher's possible return.

Bothroyd has been hit with a three-match ban as a result of his red card at Carrow Road, a suspension which rules him out of the games against Manchester City, Birmingham and Fulham.

That means Jon Stead is now likely to partner Paul Dickov in attack, leaving a vacancy on the bench for a striker with Gallagher and Matt Jansen battling it out for a recall.

Gallagher has yet to figure in the Premiership under Hughes but the Rovers boss insists the 20-year-old remains a big part of his future plans for the club.

The Scotland international seized the chance to impress watching first team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki last week, scoring twice in the reserves' 3-0 win against Wolves.

Intriguingly, Gallagher did not figure in last night's reserve match at Birmingham, which is perhaps an indication that Hughes intends to include him in his plans for the weekend instead.

A recall for the former Academy starlet would be popular amongst the supporters.

Gallagher is a big fans' favourite after bursting onto the scene in spectacular fashion last season and Hughes is well aware of the high esteem in which he is held.

The young Scot has only been used sparingly this term, to the point where he's been limited to just 45 minutes of Premiership action.

However, he did climb off the bench to score against Bournemouth in the Carling Cup in what was only Hughes' second game in charge.

Several clubs have enquired about taking Gallagher on loan whilst he's been out of the first team but, with Bothroyd now sidelined and Jansen currently hampered by a cartilage problem, he may well be poised for a return to the 16.

"Gally has been unfortunate in not having an opportunity to get involved but he's still a young player and very much the future of this club," said Hughes.

"If he needs to go out on loan (at some point) then we'll make that decision but at the moment it's important that he's around to see what we are doing and get involved."

In the meantime, Hughes is convinced that it won't be long before Stead rediscovers his magic touch in front of goal.

The 21-year-old, who was such a revelation for Rovers last season, has yet to find the net in 13 attempts so far this term.

But Hughes and his coaching staff have been putting on extra sessions for the England Under 21 international in training and the Rovers chief believes it's only a matter of time before that pays off.

"We talk with Jon all the time and we're working hard with him," said Hughes.

"He's doing extra stuff, as a lot of the players are doing.

"We encourage them to do individual work and everything we tell them should help.

"I think it's only a matter of time with Jon. He needs to keep confident and keep doing the things that he knows will get him chances.

"We work with all the forwards and they invariably want a bit of TLC and a bit of extra care because that's how strikers are.

"We give them that and make sure they get plenty of strikes on goal so they can hear the sound of the ball hitting the back of the net.

"We just re-enforce what they know and what they know is correct.

"Then, hopefully, they can transform that into games."