Sam was interested in re-signing Neill

Sam Allardyce has stepped out of the woodworks to admit he was chasing the signature of Lucas Neill earlier in the last transfer window but instead plumped for Lars Jacobsen – for cost reasons.

Neill is not well liked at Rovers after his controversial move to West Ham in the 2006/07 season where he was to play ‘Champions League football’ – but instead just went because they were paying him £70,000 a week. Something Neill has been to cowardly to admit.

Sam was keen on bringing him back to Ewood for a little while – but perhaps it was for the best the move never materialised.

Neill eventually signed for Everton, who as always seems usual in football, is facing his old club on his debut.

Sam, speaking to Sky Sports said – ‘We thought about Lucas Neill, but from our point of view it was about the financial side of it,’

‘It was a situation where we as a football club have to weigh up the players we want against which players we can actually afford.

‘Lucas, as much as we would have liked to have had him back here, his package was much more for Blackburn than Lars’ was.

‘Lars has settled in exceptionally well. He’s a real pleasure to work with and he’s been consistently good with his level of performance in the short period of this season.’

Lars himself is going back to his old club tomorrow – he spent a year at Everton. The Dane is keen to enjoy the day and to prove a point.

Jacobsen, again speaking to Sky Sports said – ‘It’s going to be exciting, it’s on my birthday, so it’s going to be a big day for me, of course I’ve something to prove.

‘I was a bit frustrated there. I went to a new club, but I couldn’t prove anything because I got injured and was unable to play. You really want to go out there and prove you can help the team.’