Varney vows to take chance

Varney: Thrust into spotlight

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Luke Varney is looking to secure a permanent move to Blackpool after being thrust onto the Premier League stage.

The 27-year-old striker was out of favour at Derby and had been approached by several rival Championship clubs over a move before the transfer deadline.

But then Blackpool came calling last week over a loan switch and Varney jumped at the chance to play top-flight football for the first time in his career.

The former Crewe and Charlton man was thrown in at the deep end as he was named in Saturday's starting line-up against Fulham.

Gamble

It was a gamble by Blackpool boss Ian Holloway given Varney had played only 90 minutes this season but it sure paid off as the on-loan striker made an impressive debut, scoring in a 2-2 draw.

It was a well-worked goal, too, as Varney timed a run off the back of the Fulham defence to latch onto Brett Ormerod's through-ball and hit a first-time shot into the bottom corner.

"I got a call at 11.20 on Thursday night and it was definitely an opportunity I could not turn down," he said.

"I needed a club as I need to play. I was close to joining a couple of Championship teams but it is a massive bonus to play in this league.

"I was really pleased to be involved. To get a start was really positive. I did not know what was going to happen.

Training-ground move

"The goal came after we had worked on the move on the training ground. It is always good when these things come off. I am just slightly disappointed we didn't get the win."

Varney's strike made it 2-1 in the 76th minute, only for Dickson Etuhu's 87th-minute equaliser to give Fulham a share of the spoils in the first Premier League game at Bloomfield Road.

Varney, who was plucked from non-league Quorn by Crewe in 2003, scored nine goals in 32 starts on loan at Sheffield Wednesday last season but was unable to keep the Owls in the Championship.

This season he aims to keep Blackpool in the Premier League and earn a permanent move to the Seasiders after joining on a season-long loan.

"I have enjoyed the atmosphere the first couple of days," he said.

"What I need to do now is build up my match pace in the next couple of weeks during the break.

"Can we stay in the Premier League? We will have a right good go. We have a fantastic manager and great bunch of lads. We are really happy."