IF Josh King is serious about looking to leave Rovers in January then there is no point standing in his way.

Don’t get me wrong, King does add value to Gary Bowyer’s squad.

He is the only player Rovers boss Bowyer has at his disposal who boasts the blistering pace to transform defence into attack in a split second.

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And his two well taken goals and clever assist in Norway’s 3-0 win over Malta on Friday proved end product does exist in his make-up.

But the problem is he has just not shown enough of it in the blue-and-white halved shirt – and certainly not enough to justify playing him in his preferred position up front.

Consider King’s goal record at Rovers, of four in 61 games, and that of Bowyer’s preferred strike-partners Jordan Rhodes (57 in 107) and Rudy Gestede (18 in 38).

There is no comparison.

To be fair to the former Manchester United man he has not been given many opportunities to lead the Rovers line with most of his playing time having been on the wing.

But King did get a chance up top against Huddersfield last time out and, as well as he played, he missed a hat-trick of good chances.

It would be no surprise, then, if the fit-again Gestede was to reclaim his place alongside Rhodes in the Rovers attack in Saturday’s Ipswich clash.

No doubt that would not go down well with King – if fit – and no doubt the Norwegian media would give him another chance to vent his frustration about life at Ewood Park during next month’s international break.

If that happens there must come a point when Rovers say enough is enough and look to move him on when the transfer window opens.

Of course there is the danger of King signing for a rival – and there has been interest from fellow Championship clubs – and fulfilling his undoubted potential.

But with his contract expiring in the summer Rovers also run the risk of allowing a player to leave for free who, despite his flaws, is worth much, much more than that.