Source: FOOTYMAD
Jay Rod's going nowhere
Jay Rodriguez is one of four players currently in the first team squad whose contract comes to an end at the end of this season, but manager Brian Laws has already started talks with him about a new deal. "We're mindful that he's coming out of contract at the end of the season, but he's young, he loves the place and I've already spoken to him about it. We've done it weeks ago, spoken to him about improving his contract, and I said once we get this international break out of the way, we'll sit down with his agent and progress something for him, because we want to keep hold of him.""He's not going anywhere," Laws added.Laws was close to bringing in Billy Sharp from Sheffield United in the summer but is now pleased that deal fell through. "I'd rather have a look at our young players than go and buy somebody and overlook them," he admitted."That's why, yes, we had an eagerness to add some more firepower, but then you think 'hang on, we're going to lose an opportunity to look at our own'."You have got to give them that opportunity and I'm glad I didn't bring anyone in. Jay could have been one of those that might have been overlooked a little bit longer, and I think he's really jumped at his opportunity, and shown he's improved, even over the last summer. There's a real edge to him now."With Laws ready extend Jay Rod's stay at Burnley, there was also praise this week from team mate Clarke Carlisle who said he was one of the most exciting forwards he has seen come through any youth system at any of his clubs.That's something. Carlisle was at Leeds as Aaron Lennon made his way through and also with Ashley Young at Watford."He is one of the most exciting players I have ever seen come through a football club. Now he just needs to learn to play real football," said Carlisle. "And I pray that he gets the games this season because he is going to come on in leaps and bounds and become one of the greatest assets that Burnley's ever produced."
