ON-LOAN Blackburn Rovers defender Alex Baptiste will ‘certainly’ start pre-season with his parent Bolton Wanderers, according to Neil Lennon.

Rovers boss Gary Bowyer has already confirmed his desire to keep Baptiste after his season-long loan runs out in the summer.

But his counterpart Lennon, who took over Bolton in October, said: “I’ve not had the chance to work with Alex yet.

“He certainly will be here pre-season because at the end of the day he is our player and I want to have a good look at him.

“I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen in the games he’s participated in on the occasions I’ve had the chance to watch Blackburn play.”

Baptiste, who has scored three in 35 appearances for Rovers, is contracted to Bolton until the summer of 2016.

Bowyer is currently unable to sign players for fees under the terms of the club’s embargo for failing Financial Fair Play.