COLIN Hendry arrived at Bolton in 2000 with almost two decades of a glittering top-flight career behind him – nothing had quite prepared him for the ‘Sam Allardyce exp-erience’ though.

With a Premier League winners’ medal, more than 500 league appearances and a World Cup finals campaign under his belt, the old adage ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ should never have been truer for the Scottish brave-heart.

That myth was quickly destroyed upon his arrival at the Reebok when he was already well into his 30’s, with the former Rovers legend describing his time with ‘Big Sam’ as a great education.

He reveals Blackburn’s new boss was years ahead of the game in his techniques and thinking and predicts an eye for detail will transform the mood around Ewood Park.

His managerial appoint-ment has already had an instant impact, as Rovers ended an 11-match winless streak in style at the weekend, and as far as Hendry is concerned his old boss was the obvious saviour.

He said: “It is an exceptional appointment. I am quite surprised as to why he has not gone somewhere else before now. I know a lot of Blackburn fans and some are dubious about him and how his teams play and how he sets a team up.

“That is not of importance now though because the most important thing is getting results and I am sure Sam will help Rovers do that.

“It will be an education for anyone around him. He will make sure no stones are left unturned, he is up there with the Joneses in that respect.

“Sam will put his own mark on the club very quickly and he will turn Rovers back into a winning team, which enjoys their football. He will make sure his players are happy though because he knows it is all about them.”

Hendry, 43, has never fallen out of love with Rovers after two spells at the club spanning nine years saw him win the Premier League trophy and make well over 300 appearances.

With his two sons, Callum and Kyle, playing for the academy and still a regular visitor to Ewood Park, Rovers’ dismal start to the campaign has hurt Hendry but he is buoyant about the immediate future.

He said: “Sam will get in there with a big stick and sort them out but it will also be enjoyable, I am sure the players will enjoy it.

“It is quite an education playing for Sam because there is no doubt he is years ahead of his trade in the techniques he uses.

“I think all Premier League teams now look at the diet and body conditioning, but Sam Allardyce probably puts more focus on things like that than anyone else.

“He knows players have to look after themselves in every way and things like ProZone are just tools he uses to get the best out of them.

“It is not about training, going home, picking the kids up and going to sleep. Football will be a day-long job for the players now because their work does not stop until they go to sleep and Sam will drum that into them.

“There are so many different things Sam will concentrate on. He will look at players’ body language and will watch their every move.”

Like so many other already this week, Hendry has backed Paul Ince to recover from last week’s sacking but has sympathised with the position chairman John Williams found himself in He said: “I am sure Paul Ince will bounce back, talk about a steep learning curve for him. Sam has been in situations like this plenty of times before though and he will know exactly what is needed to get Rovers out of it.

“I could always see Blackburn with fire-power and flair players but now he will make sure there is more of a balance to the side. To score three goals at Old Trafford and still lose could not go on.

“Rovers is a massive operation, and that is why it is so important they stay in the Premier League.”