Football Update: Jason Roberts looking to leave Blackburn Rovers and Sam Allardyce defends Christopher Samba's Red Card
Blackburn Rovers striker Jason Roberts has started to think about his future as he is no longer the first choice front man for manager Sam Allardyce. In recent games, the boss has preferred with the duo of Nikola Kalinic and Mame Biram Diouf, while Roberts
has spent most of his time on the bench. The front man is understandably not at all happy with the lack of opportunities, and said that he would be weighing up his options in January transfer window.
Roberts, who is now 32 years old said that he has been in good form and does not understand why the manager would choose to sideline him, he added that he has been giving the team his all on match-days and on training and has not given the manager any reason
to overlook him. He said that if first team football is not what he can get at Rovers he would choose to leave. Roberts added that at the age of 32 there is not much time for a player to warm the benches, as ideally at this age a striker has at best 2 more
years of first team football left in him.
The former Wigan striker said that although he is disappointed but he would continue to fight for his place. He added that in his career he has faced such problems in the past, but never backed down and that is exactly what he is going to do.
"I am still the same player that finished second in the club's goal-scoring charts last season," he said in the Daily Mirror.
"There's not much I can do apart from keeping myself as fit as I can, If I'm called upon I will do the best I can.”
Roberts went on to say that, number of clubs had shown interest in him but he saw a good future with Rovers. The 32 year old striker said that Sam Allardyce is a clever manager and does make interesting choices, and till now, he has led the club well. However,
he reiterated that along with the club’s success, he would want to individual success for him and without first team football, he would not be able to achieve that.
Jason Roberts was asked if he would like to move out of England if he decides to leave Rovers. He said that he has become accustomed to English Premier League and would love to continue here, he added that English game is more physical and quicker than other
European Leagues and with few years in his career left, he would like to retire in England.
Meanwhile, Sam Allardyce the Rovers’ boss has defended the red card shown to his player Christopher Samba against Sunderland.
Former Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck was on his way into Rovers box, when Samba tackled him and brought him down just before the first half whistle blew.
Sam Allardyce said that sometimes players do get red carded in the game not for bad tackles, but professional ones. He added that Welback was almost through and Samba knew that if he pulled him back he would be sent off and he took one for the team. The
manager went on to say that, it was by no means a dangerous tackle but a professional and a safe one.
The big Sam said that Samba was not at all happy about the sending off, and felt that he had let the team down. But the truth is that sometimes players do such things in spur of the moment and there was no harm done to Welbeck. He added that this is the
first card for his team this season, and other teams have already had multiple sending offs.
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