CHRISTMAS is a tough time of the year for footballers.

They want to spend as much time as they can with their families but they can't because of the busy festive schedule.

They have to watch what they eat and drink and travel up and down the country to play matches.

But you get the feeling that Christmas will be a very testing one for a couple of Rovers players.

Jason Roberts handing in a transfer request last week has, for all intents and purposes, spelled the end of his Blackburn career.

Handing in a request says that you no longer want to play for the club. That's it.

I know what Jason is going through. I've played the kind of supporting role he's been given - you're not first choice but you have a role to play off the bench.

And he has an essential role to play. He's an impact player and can turn games with his pace and power but if he's put in a transfer request then that is that.

Being dropped from the 16 altogether for the Wigan game speaks volumes for me.

I'm sure Jason would give 100 per cent when he gets on, but 20 minutes a game might not be what he wants and he maybe sees his long-term future elsewhere.

And that brings me on to another striker who is going through a bad time at the moment, namely Benni McCarthy.

His body language and general demeanour suggests that he's not a happy man.

He's stated in the past that he was flattered by the attention he got from the Premier League's big clubs and he allowed it to effect his mind.

And the way he took that penalty at the JJB, it was the actions of a man at ill with the world.

Maybe he just needs an arm around his shoulder, I'm sure a goal would do him the world of good because he hasn't scored in the last seven games, but it's obvious that something isn't right.

All Rovers fans will hope that whatever it is, it can be sorted soon because there's some huge games coming up.

About three weeks ago, everything in the garden was rosy but after just one win in the last seven games we're coming into a time of the year that could make or break the season.

We've got a lot of games, including two huge cup games, in a short space of time and that could ultimately determine whether Rovers make a serious charge for a European place or not.

It might be an obvious thing to say but we have to get back to winning ways as soon as possible.

When we were winning games, the confidence flowed through the side and the players were trying different things.

Now, it's as if someone has pulled the plug out and all the confidence is going down the drain.

We have to put the plug back in and fill the tank up again because teams will drop points over Christmas and Rovers have to make sure they don't.

Merry Christmas everyone!