Allardyce values settled players

Allardyce paid �6m for Croatia international striker Nikola Kalinic

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has revealed the procedure involved in helping foreign players adjust to life at Ewood Park.

Defender Michel Salgado and Croatia forward Nikola Kalinic make up a contingent of over 15 overseas players currently on Rovers' books.

"We've got a liaison officer to cover all aspects of helping them settle in," said manager Sam Allardyce.

"You have to look at a complete life change and make sure they're happy."

Since becoming Blackburn manager in December 2008, Allardyce has spent over £10m on foreign acquisitions.

You have to make sure you look into the whole family scenario and make sure that they're living in the right area

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce

And the 55-year-old has pinpointed his primary concern before upping his interest in any player.

"First and foremost I want to know how good their English is," he said.

"Their partners also need to speak English. A player at this club who leaves here and drives home and his wife or his partner is miserable then you have got no chance of any success.

"You have to make sure you look into the whole family scenario and make sure that they're living in the right area, they know where they can shop, the kids are at the right school and they know where the doctor is.

"I think that is hugely important in terms of foreign players settling into this country as quickly as possible," he added.

Allardyce also said personal factors need to be taken into consideration.

"We've had a couple of partners with newborns and that can be a problem to the player," he said

"He can suffer from sleep deprivation and a change of lifestyle, particularly if it's his first child, so we have to monitor him to make sure he is 100% when he comes in.

"It's easy to find out his positioning isn't quite right, or his fitness isn't up to scratch.

"But it's harder to find out how religious are they. We need to know what church they'd like to be near or if they have a part of their life where they need to fast."