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

Mungo added 18:27 - May 4 Would do a good job for us I think. Has been a great professional over the years and still has a lot to offer at this level. His wages are likely to be far more than we can afford however, so I doubt this will happen... I have no problem with PJ bringing in some of his old players provided they have something to offer.
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confoosed_dot_com added 19:03 - May 4 @fourth - great shout lad! Get off the pies
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jas0999 added 19:15 - May 4 IF this is true, let's rewind to the beginning of this season, and the majority of people on here (me included) were saying Scotland was a good signing because he will 'score goals at this level'. Let's learn our lesson. Roberts would have been a good signing 3 or 4 years ago. Like Scotland he is past his best sadly. In addition, this is another reminder that managers re-visit their previous clubs or target players who have played for them in the past. Burley even re-signed Counago! Roy was not the only manager who does this. Personally I have no issue with it, but for me Roberts would not be the answer.

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gypo added 19:15 - May 4 Just what Jason Scotland needs a Target man to feed off .
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tractorboy2434 added 19:24 - May 4 More disappointment on the horizon, was a good player once but at 33 is now a has been, plainly a description that now applies to ITFC, come on Jewell, you can do better, we don't want loads of has beens, find some young, fast, hungry players
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Kuqi_is_god added 19:55 - May 4 brilliant news! i just hope it's true!!!
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italiano added 19:57 - May 4 Wow, what an anti-climax. After being linked with great young prospects like Goodwillie and Sharp, we now get this tripe. Older heads and experience (often tied in with lack of pace) are great in midfield, at the back and in goal, but not up front. PLEASE no to Roberts, he was good 5 years ago...
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blueherts added 20:12 - May 4 A Lowe Sharp Goodwillie .... It has a certain ring
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blueherts added 20:17 - May 4 Nils Petersen from germany and Adam le Fondre from Rothers
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GeorgiDoundarov added 20:50 - May 4 OK this would have been good 2-3 years ago when it was first brought in the "rumours table". He was 29 then and a pretty good signing I would say. But now at 33 he will never be able to score 20 goals for us next season. And this is what we are aiming for. In addition I don't see Blackburn relegated this season so let us forget about it. I would like to see experienced people coming at PR but not "that experienced" and for sure not as strikers. A striker should be younger and pacy in order to be able to score 20+ for us. And I would add let us get two so that they can score 30+ between them. his is the way to the PM.

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WREXHAM_BLUE added 20:54 - May 4 So what if he's 33. Does anyone think Kevin Phillips wouldn't score a shed load at this level next season also? We need options up front and I wouldn't be unhappy with Roberts coming at all. I'm not saying he's the answer but he would certainly be a good addition.
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GeorgiDoundarov added 21:10 - May 4 WREXHAM_BLUE I wouldn't say that 33 is too old for everybody. Like Bullard is still very good and as you pointed out Phillips too but they both have a pace that drives them and makes them hungry for playing and scoring. Roberts is a lazy boy and for him 33 is too much. Not that I say he will be awful but he will not be the answer for our 2-3 years plan. We should build a team that can promote us into the PM and then most of the players should be good enough for 1-2 more years so that we just add on when we get into the PM not completely change the team because they are too old. Remember at 32-33 it is easy in Championship but then at 33-34 is very difficult at the Premiership....

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StochesStotasBlewe added 22:16 - May 4 He hasn,t been for talks, hasn,t signed, so what are we all worrying about. We are again being linked with players that are "alledgedly" going for. I,m afraid our neighbours up the A140 had the right idea although it pains me to admit it. Look at where they are now.
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tractorblue99 added 23:04 - May 4 Jewell knows what he wants and if roberts does come im sure that PJ will bring a couple of young(ish) players to play along side him or as back up. We wont be just signing premier league reserves or has beens so we will be fine.
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radiogaga added 23:35 - May 4 All paper talk, and sincerely hope this is not true... he could do a bit part job, but would rather have Sharp/ Mackail Smith any day of the week, absolutely any day of the week please. ITFC, don't let the supporters down by going for more simple alternatives. Pursue the likes of Sharp/ Mackail Smith. LEARN FROM LAST YEAR'S MISTAKES WITH THE SUMMER RUMOURS OF CHOPRA/ ONLY ENDING WITH SCOTLAND FOR £750K...

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radiogaga added 23:45 - May 4 We deserve better as supporters than to support a team of washed up rejects that no other club want. This would not be a forward thinking move. Get a younger up and coming quality striker who will be hungry to come here and offer us more for years and years to come. Lower leagues definitely the place to look!
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DiamondGezzer added 07:55 - May 5 Talking of Roberts, I'd sooner have Kevin Philips any day, even at his age.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 08:02 - May 5 I'm actually prepared to accept that PJ knows what he's doing, knows what he wants, and is probably looking at various alternatives because he knows he is in a situation where he is by no means guaranteed all his first choices. I still think he'll make some worthwhile progress on the signings even if I've no idea what these will turn out to be. Let's wait and see?

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blue_em_away added 12:18 - May 5 Phill....... "is understood to want his former Wigan striker Jason Roberts" What does this mean? Source of the rumour? Or is it because he's a bit fed up at Blackburn and former managers of his are linked? Not having a go mate :)
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h32 added 18:48 - May 5 ......... is this the start of the 'Dad's Army' arrival ? - I certainly hope not. Roberts would have been a good signing a couple of season's back - but not now. PJ - get away from your 'old boy' thinking, sign Bullard yes, and give the youngsters a chance to prove themselves next season. These are the players that will take the club forward - not a collection of thirty something year old's. Alternatively, get some decent scouts and coaches behind you, and trawl the lower divisions for players - like Paul Lambert has at Norwich, and he has, much to all our disgust I guess.

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h32 added 19:04 - May 5 Mark - don't keep harping on about 'what Keane did' - forget the man, he has gone thankfully. What we must not do is see PJ going down the same road, and making similar mistakes - and it has to be said there are some similarities i.e going back for 'old acquaintances' that 'once upon a time' did a job for him. As much as I hate to have to say it - Lambert has got it right - perhaps PJ could spend the entire Summer with him, and show him where to look for player's. I expect some wag will come on here and tell me to p### off to Norwich - but this is all truth and fact that reasonable people will agree with.

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Lay added 22:31 - May 5 Sadler - What are u going on about. Nugent has made it clear he does not want to come to portman road! You need to do something better with your life then dream about these players! We need to be looking to the lower leagues for these players anyway! Crawley town have a 'superb' Goalkeeper called dan cross! And also wake from needham looks pretty good for a 5'4 winger
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sadler added 22:34 - May 5 Shut up Lay! Dan Cross i've heard of him, he's superb! i prefer that striker Charles Baldwin for Bacton United! hes amazing 69 goals this season! sign him up Jewell! Sign Nugent!!! Goodwillie, Conway!!!!
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Lay added 22:46 - May 5 Honestly sadler, All your saying is complete and utter boll****s! Baldwin i have also heard of! Big strong. Big head on them shoulders!
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sadler added 22:50 - May 5 Defiently a big good head on those shoulders! Who do you think you are Lay!? Some sort of Grant Holt wannabe? fulop edwards mcauley mcartney o'connor martin bullard conway carson goodwillie nugent!
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