The Simon Garner column

YOU can't fail to marvel at the skills of the likes of Thierry Henry, Jay Jay Okocha and Paulo Di Canio but what really has impressed me is the emergence of Brett Ormerod as an established Premiership player.

For Brett is the perfect example of the local boy done good and I am sure he will get a warm reception when he goes to Ewood Park with Southampton this weekend.

He would be the first to admit that he is not a world beater but he has worked very hard on his strengths - so much so that he is currently keeping James Beattie out of the Saints team.

What pleases me most is the way he has recovered from being dumped by Blackburn Rovers as a youngster to climb to the top of the game.

He is almost unique in that respect.

How many players do you hear about who have been released as a youth team player and gone on to play in the Premiership with another side -- not that many I imagine.

Brett's short spell at Rovers came after my time at Ewood Park, so I don't really know the lad. But he deserved every credit for getting his career back on track via Accrington Stanley and Blackpool.

He did it quite late in life and should be an example to any footballer who gets shown the door at an early age.

Regarding Southampton, it's a tough one to call and I think it largely depends if the Saints name a manager before the Rovers game.

There has been talk of a new man taking charge at St Mary's before Saturday's game. That would be a bad thing as far as Rovers are concerned.

It is no coincidence that their form has dipped ever since Gordon Strachan announced he was leaving the club. Players have a habit of coasting in those situations and their results of late are proof of that - although they did well to fight back to draw with Everton 3-3 last weekend.

When a new manager comes in, players naturally up their game to impress the new boss. So I am hoping that Southampton don't reveal their new man until next week!

Regarding Gordon Strachan, I think football will miss the charismatic Scot. He is one of the few characters left in the game and you would much rather listen to his humorous but truthful comments after a match than the usual stuff that the likes of Arsene Wenger or Gerard Houllier churn out.

It was a brave decision for Gordon to walk away from the game but it was the right decision. He will be back and I am sure he will be a successful manager in the Premiership once again.

Rovers youngsters are an impressive pair

I GOT the chance to see Jonathan Stead and Paul Gallagher in action at Charlton last weekend and I was impressed by what I saw.

The two players showed that they have plenty of talent, but what I liked most was the way they closed defenders down. Premiership defenders aren't used to being hurried in to releasing the ball as they usually find they have more time.

Stead has probably brought that work ethic with him from Huddersfield but the pair are proving to be Rovers first line of defence - while obviously showing off their attacking skills as well.

I was impressed with Rovers as a unit but, as I have said in the past, they are making too many individual errors. Rovers strikers must go in to games thinking they have to score twice to get something out of games because it seems the defence are always going to give goals away.

But if they tighten up at the back then I can see no reason why Rovers can't stay out of the relegation dog fight.

As for Brad Friedel, I am absolutely gutted for him. I have never seen a goalkeeper score a goal like that before and I really thought he had salvaged a point for us.

But to go and lose with virtually the last kick of the game was a real hammer blow. I was there to experience those high and lows so God knows how Brad must have felt.