VINCE Grella’s Blackburn Rovers career has so far been more like something out of a scene from Casualty than any ‘Roy of the Rovers’ scripts he may have been dreaming of when he came to the Premier League in August 2008.

You can understand why the majority of Rovers fans don’t even consider Grella as a midfield option any more as just 29 starts in three seasons, including a mere four last time around, hardly inspires confidence.

The 31-year-old must feel has though he has walked under a ladder, run over a black cat, smashed a mirror or raised an umbrella indoors – or all of the above – after being plagued by injuries ever since signing from Torino for in the region of £4million.

Grella though has never given up hope. He has never moaned about his horrible luck and has never sulked or stopped acting like a true professional.

Ask any Rovers player and they will tell you he is one of the most dedicated trainers at the club and they will all have everything crossed that this summer can prove a turning point for the Aussie.

And why not? Yesterday saw his first pre-season outing of the season, the last quarter of the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa, and hopefully that can be the start of better things to come.

A fit Grella – admittedly a rare luxury – has been an automatic starter for all of Rovers’ last three managers and that is no small thing considering the little time he has had to impress. A no-nonsense tackler with the ability to spread the play with one simple pass, there is no doubt Grella would be a huge player for Kean this campaign if they can keep him fit.

No-one could blame Rovers if they lost patience in him and, if a decent bid came in, you would expect Rovers to take the money and run.

Until then though, there remains a chance Grella could come good.

No-one is going to speak too early, especially not Grella himself, but the last couple of weeks have seen him training well and looking strong.

It could end in tears once more – and you get the feeling he is running out of chances – but Rovers would undoubtedly be the winner should he bring an end to his woes.

Whisper it quietly but Grella could still become a Rovers success.