FORMER Rovers teenage prodigy Paul Gallagher admits he is resigned to life away from Ewood Park as he bids to finally revive a floundering career.

The 24-year-old has scored four goals in just seven appearances on loan at Championship Plymouth and believes the time may have to come to cut his Rovers ties for good.

Blackburn-boy Gallagher looked like he was heading for stardom after bursting onto the first-team scene at Rovers aged just 19 but, six years on, knows the clock is ticking on a once-promising career.

Gallagher is expecting to remain at Home Park until the end of the season at least before reviewing his options, with a move away from Lancashire now almost inevitable.

He said: “Sometimes you have to take a step backwards to move forward and that is what I hope I have done by moving into the Championship.

“For quite a while now I have thought it might be time for me leave Blackburn permanently. It is disappointing but that is football.

“I have to go where I can play regular football and, being honest I can’t see that happening at Rovers.

“At the moment all I can concentrate on is playing for Plymouth, I don’t even know what Blackburn are thinking. But I have to admit I don’t really expect to still be a Blackburn player come next season.”

His Ewood Park exit was the last thing on people’s minds when he shot to international prominence with a string of impressive performances for Rovers between 2003 and 2005.

As well as his first and only Scottish cap in 2004, Gallagher made 27 appearances in the 2003/04 season, scoring three goals, as he established himself as a real hope for the future.

Since then though his Ewood career has been characterised by a series of cameos and loan spells with him admitting he can not wait for ever.

He said: “I need to be playing regular football at my age and that does not look like it is ever going to happen at Blackburn.

“I don’t feel as though I have had the chances I deserved there but that is football. I was flying at one stage but things never progressed like I thought they would.

“In the summer Paul Ince told me I could stay if I wanted and that he liked me as a player but I knew it was time to get out, I had heard it all before to be honest.

“What has happened at Blackburn has cost me my chances with Scotland, how can the manager pick me if I am not playing for my club? But I still have hopes of getting back involved with Scotland in the future.”

Gallagher is adamant there is no bitterness towards Rovers although remains full of confidence in his ability to plunder goals at the highest level.

The Glasgow-born striker has already fired himself into the hearts of the Plymouth faithful as he looks to plot a route back to the top.

He said: “I showed I could score goals in the Premier League and, given the chance, I believe I would have had far more Rovers goals to my name.

“I am not giving up on playing in the Premier League, I believe that is where I should be playing, but at the moment I just need to be playing football.

“I am really enjoying myself at Plymouth. Paul Sturrock is a very good manager and has been great for me.

"Perhaps there will be the chance to stay at Plymouth, I am leaving all my options open.”