Grella, who saw a proposed transfer to Galatasaray break down last week, has struggled to make an impact at Ewood Park since joining Blackburn in August 2008 from Italian club Torino.

A bad run of injuries has been Grella's main problem since moving to England, restricting him to just 25 Premier League starts in two seasons at the club.

Allardyce admitted to the Lancashire Telegraph a Grella move away from Blackburn would've suited the club, but says he's happy to see him stay although he now hopes the Socceroo can overcome his injury troubles.

"This Galatasaray thing would have suited both of us but if he stays with us hopefully he won't have the same problems he has had over the last two seasons,"Allardyce said.

"There was some interest from Galatasaray but that appears to have drifted away. I think Lucas Neill and Harry Kewell played for that club and asked their coach to have a look.

"I am happy for him to stay on but I think for him and for us if the move had have been okay it would have been good for both of us.

"Vince has yet to establish himself in the Premier League unfortunately due to injuries - nothing else.

"We know he is good enough. But he hasn't managed to overcome the niggles and the strains that have cost him the time that we need him to be playing.

"We know when he plays he is good enough but now we need to get him available enough and play as often as he would like and we would like."

Grella, who cost Rovers £4m when he signed from Torino, still has two years to run on his contract with Rovers.

Allardyce added: "He has shown he can be a big player when he plays but unfortunately the glimpses we have seen have been over two seasons now.

"One season we could understand it was a difficult period of moving from Italy to the Premier League. Michel Salgado played for Real Madrid for 10 years and it took him until mid-November to find out what it is all about.

"Vince was starting to do that and then another thigh muscle becomes another hamstring, becomes another calf.

"When we looked at the record unfortunately he had the lowest starts of our first team squad and that was the reason why we were listening to offers.

"We know what the player is capable of but we haven't been able to keep him on the pitch as long as we wanted."