The hills are alive with the sound of footy at Blackburn's summer camp in Austria, and the need for an extra striker - or two - is an open secret. Christian Vieri has joined the pre-season training sessions, without a club since being released by Atalanta, the 35-year-old speaks his mind in fluent English with an Aussie accent, Sport, having spent much of his childhood there. He & Mark Viduka would make decent additions, until the winter sets in anyway...

I spoke to Big Sam about Paul Gallagher back from helping to save Plymouth from relegation. Sam says it's up to Paul, but maybe gave away the game by saying it was Souness who visualised Paul up front with John Stead. Hey, the lad's only 25 on the 9th August, 10 years younger than Vieri. Big Sam says he has talent but questions his desire to play in the Premier.

Next Tuesday 14th is the first friendly away to Cambridge where they can display their Austrian sun-tans, then Thursday 16th it's off to Bolzano where they'll play A C Roma. Very similar to Austria, the south Tyrol area used to be part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, and the museum houses Ötzi the Iceman, a mummy from 3,300 B.C. No jokes, please, I'll freeze them all out.

Saturday 18th Rovers play a Split game, one half vs. Hadjuk Split in Split Croatia, split with one half vs. CS Maritimo. This leads to Leeds away a week later, the Owls on August 1st away, Hibs home Wednesday 5th, Dundee awa' the noo Sat'dy 8th. Then reality hits: Man City a week later, and away to Fulham for our 2nd 3rd & 4th points on Tuesday 18th.