Blackburn Rovers Football Club News

• Nickname:Rovers
• Founded:1875
• Manager:Steve Kean

• Ground:Ewood Park
• Capacity:31,367

Hughes pledges Bentley stay

26 Apr 2008 - 11:59:27

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Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes has made clear his desire to keep England international winger David Bentley at Ewood Park beyond next summer.

The 23-year-old is currently in talks about a new contract with Rovers, with the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea reportedly keen to try and tempt Bentley to make a move.

However, a defiant Hughes stated: "We don't have to sell David Bentley and we aren't looking to sell him.

"The speculation happens every year with our better players, but if you look back, not many have ultimately been allowed to go.

"That's because we know we will be weakened as a consequence, so we are not looking to sell any of our major players and I don't expect it to happen.

"David Bentley has a good contract here and there is good length on that contract, so we don't have to sell."

Bentley joined Rovers in the summer of 2005 after growing frustrated at a lack of first-team opportunities at Arsenal.

Since then he has scored 21 goals in 130 appearances for Rovers, while also earning a spot in the England set-up - making his full debut in the 2-0 friendly win over Switzerland in February.