ROVERS chairman John Williams has said any approach for Jason Roberts would be unwelcome - insisting he is part of manager Mark Hughes' plans.

His comments follows speculation in several national newspapers yesterday linking the Blackburn striker with a summer move out of Ewood Park.

Reports suggested Derby have earmarked Roberts as the man to fire the Rams back into the Premier League next season, while Sunderland and Bolton are believed to be monitoring the 30-year-old's situation.

But Williams is not preprared to entertain bids for the Grenadan international, who has started Blackburn's last five Premier League matches after previously enduring an unsettled period at the club.

"Jason's been on a good run of late and, as far as I'm concerned, he will be with us at the start of next season," said the Rovers chairman.

"Certainly at the moment, he's not for sale and we won't be entertaining any approaches for him.

"We are not in the process of wanting to lose our best players and Jason comes into that category."

Roberts has cut a frustrated figure at times this season, due to his lack of Premier League starts and also struggling with a groin injury.

At one stage, the former Wigan marksman was so disillusioned with life on the substitutes' bench that he submitted a transfer request, which was rejected by Hughes and the Blackburn board.

But he is now enjoying a run of starts for Rovers, and Hughes recently reassured Roberts that he had no plans to sell him this summer, saying: "No-one was ever trying to force Jason Roberts out of the door.

"He's still very much part of what we are trying to do here. I think (his transfer request) was borne out of frustration."

Roberts will hope to maintain his place alongside Roque Santa Cruz against Manchester United this Saturday as Rovers face a make-or-break final four games in their quest for Europe.

Blackburn's bid for an Intertoto Cup spot is hanging by a thread following last Sunday's disappointing 3-1 defeat at Liverpool.

But Roberts - who was denied a goal at Anfield after wrongly being flagged offside - admits it is still all to play for.

"We've all got a huge incentive to do well," he said.

"We all want to stay in the team and have a good run until the end of the season.

"We want to finish as high up the table as possible.

"From our point of view, there is a lot of motivation for us to go out there and do well, and we are looking forward to Manchester United.

"We've got four games to go and we've got to remain focused, try and give everything and hopefully bring some points, especially at home."