JAMES Beattie could yet be offered the chance to make a dream Ewood Park return – but only if dramatic changes are made to Blackburn Rovers’ current striking options.

The Stoke City striker would relish the opportunity to rejoin his boyhood club in January, if he fails to resolve his issues in the Potteries, with Rovers keeping an eye on his situation from a distance.

Manager Sam Allardyce has already admitted he would have enquired about Beattie last January, had Roque Santa Cruz quit Ewood, and could be tempted into renewing his interest.

Rovers though are currently waiting for an answer from Chelsea on whether loan star Franco Di Santo can extend his stay in Blackburn until the end of the season - with that decision pivotal in their New Year transfer moves.

Beattie’s style would be too similar to the likes of Di Santo, Jason Roberts and Nikola Kalinic, should their current attacking options remain unchanged.

Rovers’ transfer budget will be limited to say the least this January and it would be highly unlikely that Allardyce would be able to spend more money on another ‘target man’ type.

Sources close to Beattie though suggest the player himself would relish a move back to Rovers, having started his career there between 1995-98, and a couple of departures could quickly make him tempting to Allardyce.

The striker departed for Southampton in 1998 as part of the deal that took Kevin Davies to Rovers for £7million, but has remained friends with former team mate and Ewood favourite David Dunn.

The 31-year-old’s future at Stoke remains uncertain, after an alleged bust-up with boss Tony Pulis.

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