Blackburn Rovers midfielder Grella in plea to Australia

10:10am Saturday 4th October 2008

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VINCE Grella has urged his Australian boss to ‘give him a break’ as he focuses on finally getting his Ewood Park career started.

Rovers’ summer recruit has been named alongside teammate Brett Emerton in Pim Verbeek’s squad for the World Cup qualifier with Qatar later this month, despite his recent injury woes.

The former Torino midfielder only resumed training on Thursday, having missed most of the start of the season with a calf injury, and has asked Verbeek to let him stay in Lancashire.

A decision on whether Grella will travel for the October 15 clash is expected after tonight’s home game with Manchester United, with Rovers boss Paul Ince also keen on keeping him FROM BACK PAGE keeping him in England.

Grella said: “Technically I am fit but I have only really put in one training session with the team. I have put in a lot of general fitness work but just probably need the next couple of weeks to get myself fit.

“I think after the game I will be talking with the manager of Blackburn and have already talked with the manager of the national team.

“We will then make a decision . But there is a strong chance, I don’t know how strong, that I will be staying here.”

Since arriving in Lancashire in August for around £4million, Grella has played just 45 minutes for Rovers, the first half against West Ham.

He believes Verbeek will understand his frustration and is confident he will be given the perfect chance to get himself ready for the trip to Bolton in a fortnight.

He said: “I think it is a tricky one because even the national team coach would probably rather have his full tem, even though some players aren’t at a 100 per cent.

“It is even hard for him to leave me out even though he knows I may be struggling physically.

“But I think he is a decent man and he understands the difficulties I have been going through, especially changing clubs and not having been able to fit for my club.

“I have expressed that to him and he has been very good about that. He understands so we will see tomorrow afternoon.

“Bolton is the next game and that would be the ideal plan. Hopefully speaking with them we find the best agreement for me.”