Perfect timing for Burnley striker Rodriguez (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Perfect timing for Burnley striker Rodriguez

10:12am Wednesday 1st February 2012 in News By Suzanne Geldard, Burnley FC reporter

EDDIE Howe believes the transfer window closed at the right time to keep Jay Rodriguez at Turf Moor, after the striker scored both goals in last night’s pre-deadline 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest.

The 22-year-old had been the subject of interest from Newcastle United this month.

And Burnley boss Howe believes the pursuit of the 16-goal top scorer will only intensify.

“Hopefully everyone’s going to be short on time,” he said.

“If the window was probably open another week I’m sure we’d be getting bids.

“I can’t speak highly enough of him this season, I think he’s improved game on game just like the team has.

“Hopefully we can keep him and he can enjoy the rest of the season with us. Before the game I don’t think we’d had a bid.

“We’ll wait and see whether that’s changed after the game.”

But with just under an hour of the window to go when Howe addressed the press last night, he joked: “My phone’s off. I’ve got to try to take Barry Kilby’s battery out of his phone and make sure we don’t get any calls because we’ve got such a small squad as we are at the moment we can’t afford to lose anybody.

“And Jay just continues to get better and better.”

Rodriguez scored in both halves – both headers from Kieran Trippier right wing crosses.

The former England Under 21 international might have had a hat-trick had it not been for an untimely slip when taking a second half penalty.

“It was just unfortunate,” said Howe.

“It was great play to win it in the first place from Ben (Mee), and he (Rodriguez) just slipped on contact, which happens.

“I won’t dwell on that too much though, I just want to think of the goals he scored and his all-round performance which again I thought was excellent.

“I can’t speak highly enough of him.

“I’ll be pleased when the window’s shut.”

Of the win – Burnley’s eighth on the road this season – Howe added: “I thought we started both halves really.

“Both goals were pretty similar really – two excellent balls in by Kieran who had another great game and two really good finishes by Jay.

“Defensively we look really strong and solid and I can’t speak highly enough of the players’ mentality.

“That’s the big thing that’s improved throughout the season.

“It was a mature performance at a tough place to come.

“We didn’t have a negative reaction to the penalty, and then we got the second goal and once we scored that it was game over.”