KNOWING the value Sam Allardyce places on commitment, is it any surprise that he admires Robbie Savage?

He knows Mark Hughes' midfield enforcer is likely to cause Wanderers problems at Ewood Park on Saturday afternoon.

Chances are he will be on the touchline frantically urging referee Mike Riley to keep him under control.

And although he is not unduly worried about how much damage he might do not in the way he would be concerned at the impact of some of the Premiership's more gifted players - he expresses a healthy respect for the Wild Rover, even going so far as to admit that he likes him.

"We all know what Robbie's about and we all know he gets the maximum out of himself and gives his club the maximum," he said. "You can't ask for any more than that and he does it week in, week out.

"He's a totally dedicated professional. He's 100 per cent and with a bit more talent than people give him credit for.

"He's built a reputation for himself, but I like that. Having the character to actually make himself popular by building a reputation for himself is a great credit to him."

Allardyce voiced his admiration of Savage's character, tracing the fall and rise of the man who had exclusive rights to the title Public Enemy Number One before Wanderers' very own El-Hadji Diouf entered the unpopularity stakes.

"He started his career at the highest level (Savage was on Manchester United's books as a youngster) then slipped down before coming all the way back up," he added.

"And that doesn't happen so often these days. As a young lad he started at Manchester United, then went to Crewe, Leicester and Birmingham and now he's at Blackburn.

"He's actually played more of his football in the Premiership and done a very effective job for whoever he has played for, and in a number of positions.

"In fact, his versatility has been key to his success as a player.

"He bases his game on hard graft, hard work and trying to disrupt the flow of your team so you have to deal with that, as and when it happens. But you must not let him disturb what you do.

"If you allow him to put you off your game, he's won.

"But I'd be more worried about a Wayne Rooney or a Thierry Henry than about Robbie Savage, because they are top players who can turn a game in their favour. Robbie's very important to Blackburn and a big member of their team. He keeps them ticking and keeps them motivated at such a high tempo.

"But he's not a Rooney, van Nistelrooy or a Giggs or an Henry, an Eidur Gudjohnsen or a Frank Lampard."

Whatever impact Savage has on proceedings at Ewood Park tomorrow, Allardyce is hoping his team, again weakened by injuries and the loss of players to the African Nations Cup but boosted by the return from suspension of key men Kevin Nolan and Kevin Davies and with Ivan Campo available after his recent ban, can match the level they hit when they opened their FA Cup account with an impressive 3-0 win at Watford last week.

"If we can put on as good a performance as we did there, we've got a good chance of competing against Blackburn and getting a good result," he said.

"If we don't compete at that level, we could struggle."