Blackburn striker Jason Roberts is reported to have held talks at Portman Road earlier today with manager Paul Jewell keen to add a second new striker to his squad. Rumours of another potential recruit being at the club to speak with Jewell have been circulating on the TWTD Message Board throughout the afternoon and Roberts is said to be that player.

The 33-year-old, who was a member of Jewell’s 2004/05 promotion-winning Wigan side, has been linked with the Blues since May when the Town boss refused to comment on the speculation.

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 are understood to be prepared to allow him to leave in the summer.

During 2010/11 Roberts, who was awarded an MBE in 2010 for his services to sport in Grenada and London, has scored five goals in 14 starts plus another 13 matches as a substitute.

Photo: Action Images

Hungry_Badger added 23:13 - Jun 13 He wasnt a bad player in the Premier League last season, and has obviously scored goals at this level before- a good signing, IF true.
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MarkITFC added 23:14 - Jun 13 would be a good signing imo , would add something different and chops could play off him and form a decent forward line . He would also chip in with goals , if scotland can get 10 , Roberts would get 15 . Chopra , Roberts , Wickham , Priskin , Murray - not bad
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shropshiretractor added 23:15 - Jun 13 Not sure about this one. Still a good striker, but no better than Scotland in my opinion. If we got him would have to be a 1 year deal. If we're going for this type of striker, stick with what we have. You never know, Priskin could play well up front with Chopra to create for chopra to bang them in. Would prefer a younger, hungrier striker than this
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Blue_Fred added 23:21 - Jun 13 i think the jewell factor swings this one for me - look how well bulard played for his former boss Also Jason Roberts is definately better than Scotland and a recognisable threat to tscore rather than just support his strike partner unlike Priskin short term deal on a free aka Ingermarson would be sound business imo
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asajennings added 23:22 - Jun 13 Jason Roberts no better than Scotland? Roberts was looking very sharp in the Premier League last season. Didn't get on with Allardyce who had to throw him in and Roberts got goals. When Kean called upon him he looked good again. Very strong and still pretty quick. Bearing in mind he was a handful for some of the best defenders in the world I think it's fair to say this would be quite a signing.

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robdaful added 23:24 - Jun 13 Would be alright but not too sure how many seasons he'll have in him but nether-the-less a good signing.
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streety86 added 23:27 - Jun 13 No better than Scotland? Roberts scored 5 goals in 13 appearances last season, a younger Scotland playing for a similar club (in stature) Wigan scored 1 in 32 games, no comparison imho
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Manic_Blue added 23:28 - Jun 13 Unlike the more pessimistic posters here, I don't think signing Roberts would signal the end of Wickham's Ipswich career, I think it says we're looking to hold on to him. Wickham is still learning the game and having experienced players alongside him will give him the opportunity learn from a player who has scored goals at the highest level.
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CaptainWoodsy added 23:29 - Jun 13 Would be a decent signing at best. Roberts is a half decent player, however there is better out there, e.g Nugent on a free, or the likes of Sharp for a fee. Would be happy with it, and we definitely do need another striker however I'm not convinced he is who we need.
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casanovacrow added 23:29 - Jun 13 As good as telling us Wickham is off
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MaySixth added 23:29 - Jun 13 Would be a good signing. Man of the match for Rovers in their last game.
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Karlosfandangal added 23:31 - Jun 13 If Wickham stays then it will be a Wickham Chopra up front with a Roberts to fill in for injury or coming off the bench think Priskin will be the one to go out on loan and Scotland only making the bench if we have injuries We still have Carson and Murray who can play up front If Wickham goes would like to see a young stricker coming in (ie A Sharpe type of player)

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churchmans added 23:32 - Jun 13 'jason roberts no better than scotland'!!!!!! What a dik im sorry my friend you got that well wrong!!!! roberts on a free pure power house and like the guy before me will bang in 15 i reckon he will score 20 in championship him and chopra upfront will frighten the sides in the championship just like bent and kuqi did they will cause plenty of damage! there will not be to many defences to tame this strike pair but i will agree with you and say 1 year deal but town will offer 2years to sweeten the deal i reckon!

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ipswichtillidie added 23:33 - Jun 13 Roberts is a Powerhouse.. Awesome signing this could be at this level.. Strong quick and scores goals.. Great short term fix and on a free.. Was just mentioning him to my mate earlier this evening and hey presto Mel Henderson pops up with a link...
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GTRKing added 23:34 - Jun 13 yh this player looks good too many striker. scotland on loan keep carson or play in midfield chops/Roberts up front & wickham keep murray & priskin go for it get him but we need midfield & defense not strikers
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shropshiretractor added 23:34 - Jun 13 When we were signing Scotland I thought he would be a good striker, and he has been when presented with a decent opportunity he takes them well, just needs good chances. Roberts is 33, so 34 next season, good player, yes, but unless we're going for a full promotion push next season, why get him in when we could get a younger, hungrier striker in who has it all to prove and can be there for the 2 seasons we'll probably be pushing to go up

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Warkystache added 23:35 - Jun 13 I can't believe you people. Roberts would score at least 15-20 in this league if played regularly. And he's free. Yet, some of you sound distinctly underwhelmed!! We've been crying out for this type of player for ages.
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dantown added 23:35 - Jun 13 How can people not be pleased to be linked to a player of Roberts PROVEN quailty is totally mind blowing. Nugent was a failure in the prem, but everyone would be chuffed if we signed him.. So was Scotland for that matter. But Roberts is a class act.. I would be v excited to see him in a town shirt!
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churchmans added 23:39 - Jun 13 can i say to everyone that i dont agree with the people who think that wickham is the MESSIAH! and people saying sell for 16 20 million you live in a dream world!! he got potential and would like to see him stay and play upfont next season on a regular basis but he didnt do jack last season and guess what? i dont go for the media hype! and staff blowing his trumpet ill judge from what i see last season and im sorry to say that i didnt get a hard on watching him thought he was above average sorry!!

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GTRKing added 23:40 - Jun 13 look he's good but nearly got him on fifa 11 but what about chad evans are we not getting him common PJ We got enough striker need a young striker if you wanna get 1 more but will be happy with roberts. we need midfield we got norris/carson if we play him in that position & we got 1 good defense so far we need 1 more CB 1 LB 1 RB 1 LM 1 RM 1 CM If norris goes 1 CAM Maybe & 1 GK Maybe

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TractorRoyNo1 added 23:40 - Jun 13 if we can get him for £500k then he's worth a punt, but would not pay more than that for a 33 year old, i'd rather have kevin phillips at 43 or whatever he is now - roberts is a nice bloke and well deserved his 'gong' but even at this best (6 year ago?) was a zillions miles off being an international footballer
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taylor15 added 23:41 - Jun 13 to be quite honest, this would be a good signing. he is massively built, which will help the players feed of him and he can hold up the ball. last season, when he played for blackburn, i watched match of the day, and each game he played in, he played well. he held up the ball well, and fed it off! i think this is a really good signing to be honest! all we need now if someone like lewis mcgucan in the middle, sean saint ledger, maybe the belgium person we were linked with, and a decent shot stopper. and obviously a right back. i remember shay given saying that he would drop down to championship level, to get games, however, obviously his wages are well out of our hands, plus arsenal are linked.. finally, does anyone know what happened to our links with kieron westwood, and david goodwille?

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dantown added 23:41 - Jun 13 That Goal against Sheffield u !?
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shropshiretractor added 23:42 - Jun 13 I've just heard it all before, people were so keen on the Scotland transfer with these sort of comments, got used to them failing the build-up. If he does sign i'd love him to prove me wrong and I'm always fully behind any signing (unless it's Bellamy), I've just got used to it all every time and can't see it. Saw Murray when he was at Tourquay (when he came on) - he'll hardly play next season I think, he's just not upto it.

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tomos91 added 23:42 - Jun 13 I think its a good shout. When we are away to a difficult team 10 mins to go and its 1 - 1 and the other team hear jason roberts is coming on the fans and the opposition will be affected mentally. Not just that he is a big player something we havent really got other than wickham... we need depth not a medocre squad of a few players
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