Sam Allardyce says Mame Biram Diouf's hat-trick may not guarantee him a starting role against Arsenal.
Hat-trick hero not guaranteed role versus Arsenal
Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has revealed that Mame Biram Diouf's Caring Cup hat-trick may not guarantee him a starting berth against Arsenal on Saturday.
Allardyce moved to bolster his frontline this summer by bringing 22-year-old Diouf to Ewood Park on loan from Manchester United.
And the Senegal international scored his first goals for the club on Tuesday as he fired Rovers to a 3-1 win over Norwich.
Allardyce has now challenged Diouf to continue to prove himself on a regular basis as he weighs up who will feature against the Gunners this weekend, live on
Sky Sports HD2 & 2.
"My head of recruitment Martin Glover heard there was a possibility Mame could be going out on loan so I rang (United boss) Sir Alex (Ferguson) and asked him to consider us if he didn't mind when he was ready," he said.
"Alex's concern was if they were loaning him out he wanted him to play a lot of games.
4-4-2
"His concern was 'Will you play him in 20-odd games Sam?' I said to him 'It's down to him isn't it?'.
"If he plays well he stays in, if he doesn't he gets bombed out.
"But I was pleased I was able to persuade him [Ferguson].
"Mame coming in meant he was going to get 20-odd games in the season as we only have three strikers."
Allardyce continued: "Can we afford to play just two in midfield if we are playing Niko Kalinic and Mame Diouf up front, that is the key for me.
"I have to find the answer to that and I think I will. In some games I will go two up top and in others I won't.
"There is a fine line, sometimes it will be a fight between Niko and Mame, and sometimes it will be the pair of them together."
