BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes insists he is reluctant to sell Paul Gallagher during the January transfer window.

The Scotland international, who could feature in today's third round FA Cup tie with Coventry City at Ewood Park, is being targeted by a club in the Championship after completing a successful loan spell with Preston North End.

But, although the 23-year-old's first-team opp-ortunities would appear to look limited at Rovers, where he is behind Roque Santa Cruz, Benni Mc-Carthy and Matt Derbyshire in the pecking order, Hughes remains a big admirer of the versatile striker, and he would only be willing to let him leave on a permanent basis if he felt it was in the best interests of the club.

The Rovers chief, who insists he has yet to discuss the possibility of selling Gallagher with the Rovers board, said: "I don't think we've come to that point, and we haven't had that conversation as yet.

"I've got a lot of time for Gally because I've got a great admiration for the skill and technical ability that he has got.

"I don't really want to allow that out of the club unless it suits my plans, and I'm able to look at situations that will benefit the club.

"So we are not really looking at that situation regarding Paul as yet.

"But the window is open so who knows what might happen.

"Teams look at players and think there is a possibility they may be able to get them out."

Although Hughes rates Gallagher as one of the most technically gifted players in his first team squad, that talent has not been enough to guarantee the former Academy starlet a regular start during the Welshman's three years in charge.

However, the Rovers chief insists that's mainly due to the calibre of players in front of Gallagher in the pecking order, rather than any deficiencies on the striker's part.

"In the early part of the season, we brought in Roque, and also had Benni, Jason Roberts and Matt Derbyshire as well, so that was the thinking behind letting him go out on loan.," said Hughes "We wanted him to play football and he's a guy who has had experience of going out on loan because he had a spell at Stoke (two seasons ago) as well.

"There's always that balance to be made when you send a player out on loan because, when they come back, they are always that little bit frustrated because they've got used to playing every week.

"So you always have to reassure the player that he still has a big part to play."