Town boss Paul Jewell is understood to want his former Wigan striker Jason Roberts to join him at Portman Road next season. Roberts, who is currently at Blackburn Rovers, was a key member of Jewell’s Latics side which won promotion to the Premier League in 2004/05.

Roberts started his career with non-league Hayes before moving on to Wolves for £250,000, during which time he went on loan spells at Torquay and Bristol City.

However, after another £250,000 switch it was at Bristol Rovers where he made his name, scoring 48 goals in 88 starts and five sub appearances between August 1998 and July 2000.

This form led to a £2 million move to West Brom, where the Londoner enjoyed a less successful spell - 86 starts, 15 sub appearances and 27 goals - and joined Portsmouth for a brief loan in 2003/04.

Jewell took Roberts to Wigan for £1.4 million in January 2004 and 43 goals in 99 starts and four games from the bench followed in the next two-and-a-half seasons.

Blackburn were successful with a £3 million offer in July 2006 and Roberts, who has won 22 international caps with Grenada, scoring 12 goals, moved on to Ewood Park, where he has netted 25 goals in 77 starts and 64 sub appearances.

In January, 6ft 1in tall Roberts signed a new deal aimed at keeping him at Blackburn until the summer of 2012 with an option for a further season, however, Rovers may be prepared to allow him to leave in the summer, particularly if they are relegated from the Premier League.

This season Roberts, who was awarded the MBE in 2010 for his services to sport in Grenada and London, has scored three goals in 11 starts plus another 13 matches as a substitute.

Photo: Action Images

E3Blue added 15:11 - May 4 I said this would be a good signing a long while ago. Would really cause the defences in the Championship a lot of trouble. He is still a handful against most premiership teams.
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JimmyJazz added 15:14 - May 4 Blackburn won't be relegated, but with money to spend they may want to bring in a better level of striker for next season
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Wallingford_Boy added 15:16 - May 4 He's 33 now, no thanks! (I'd say a goal just over every 3 games isn't a bad spell - re: WBA).
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triggs21 added 15:17 - May 4 Whats this a manager going back to a former club for a former player again ??? More Wigan rejects... Was that not what Keane's players were labelled Sunderland rejects....
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E3Blue added 15:26 - May 4 @Wallingford Boy, his most recent record in this division, was the 2 seasons he spent here with Wigan when he helped them going up in a huge way. His ratio over the 1 & 1/2 seasons was 1 in every 1.9 which is pretty good...
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Tractorboy24 added 15:28 - May 4 Don't think Jewell was ever at Blackburn, also wouldn't say Bullard was a failure, I'd take Roberts, he's pace was never his main attribute, whilst hasn't been prolific this season, he's always put in a decent performance, just need someone with a bit of pace to play along side him.
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casanovacrow added 15:29 - May 4 Roberts would be expensive for what he'd bring no doubt. Far better options out there. I was hoping that Jewell would get in players with the same attributes as he had at Wigan not the same actual players :- Jewell used to be good at spotting unnoticed bargain talent from lesser teams. We had enough of the lazy been there done that players on stupid wages under Keane. I have no doubt that we need experience in the team but it would be more useful in CM where organization is critical and lacking ...and CB is McAuley goes.

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NoCanariesAllowed added 15:34 - May 4 Could see this rumour coming a mile off - either Roberts or Nathan Ellington. I wouldn't personally be in favour of either these days, good as they were for Wigan back then. Can't see how Roberts would be much better than Scotland.
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itfc1981 added 15:35 - May 4 to many oldies
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svendust added 15:38 - May 4 I can't see how anyone would be worse than Scotland! Exaggeration maybe but Roberts would certainly be an improvement and score a decent amount at this level, however his wages would be a problem and I don't think he's ready to drop down from the Prem, unless he's desperate for a reunion with PJ and possible Ellington.
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boltzak added 15:53 - May 4 Jason Scotland MK2!
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Brazils_Bathrobe added 15:54 - May 4 Gut feeling is its a backward step. Would much prefer we were looking at younger players from lower leagues who will come in hungry and with a point to prove. GB used to do alright at spotting these types and i always thought PJ to be likeminded.
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WeirdFishes added 16:03 - May 4 bullard - ex wigan, pollit- wigan, roberts -ex wigan, sounds to much like keane to me
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bluelady added 16:07 - May 4 alexharben its lazy journalism all these links...... Bullard however was a very very astute signing without which we may be a lot further down the league so i have no complaints there, not sure Keane brought in such a good ex player?
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robdaful added 16:24 - May 4 The diffence is that Jewell is not getting Wigan rejects he's being linked with players that were good and brought by other teams. Unlike Keane who brought sunderland players that were rotting in the reserves which were not wanted by anyone. And could break in to their first team.
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Harry_Palmer added 16:28 - May 4 Wages ??
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Lightningboy added 16:35 - May 4 Would probably do a good job in this division for a season or so..personally,i'd rather us buy someone a little younger than 33..we're already lumbered with Scotland & may not be able to offload him along with Priskin as easily as we think.
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robdaful added 16:38 - May 4 Paul Jewell's OAP army!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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sonian_blue added 16:49 - May 4 Oh come on, this is not the way ahead. We have been linked with many lower level strikers, but didnt push the boat out and they have all gone on to do well at this level. Maynard, Jackson then there is Holt, Pitman. Why not go down a level or two, Le Fondre, Lowe etc. We dont want old men who have nothing to prove...Scotland is an example of this. It is time to rebuild. Havent Nodge just got out of this league speculating with minimal cost. I am begining to get a feeling of deja vu.

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bedsitfc added 16:50 - May 4 If this is true - and its a big if. Would be a good player for wickham to learn from and help in his development.
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sadler added 16:53 - May 4 i knew it!!! i thought we be interested in Roberts! sell wickham, buy goodwillie, conway, roberts, bullard, sharp and nugent!!!!
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BlueArmy01 added 18:11 - May 4 Anyone dropping from Premier is on too much money, lower leagues is where we need to look..................come to think of it what Footballer isn't overpaid!!!
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fourth added 18:11 - May 4 I would prefer that Mr Jewell put some emphasis on his personal fitness. You can't think properly when you're fat (!) And build an exciting team on the basis of good scouting. SCOUTING is a great investment, let's steer clear of difficult contract situations/high transfer fees/HUGE salaries. We must have at least 5 players ready for 2011/12, so now Mr J needs to earn his big salary and get off his big bottom and WORK!

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blueblood66 added 18:14 - May 4 Too old we want hungry young bucks!
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Mark added 18:22 - May 4 It is ridiculous to compare Jewell to Keane on the basis of one signing (Bullard - who is very very good!!) and a few media links! Let's just remind ourselves of the players Keane signed who he knew: Fulop (not worth £1M), Kennedy (OK signing), Colback (good loan signing), Edwards (not worth £1.4M), Leadbitter (not worth £2.6M, Healy (only any good when Keane left), Hourihane (never seen him), Martin (not worth £2M), John (poor loan signing), Healy (poor loan signing), Murphy (good loan signing)...I make that 11, a whole team!!

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