Keith Gillespie urges Blackburn Rovers to keep Jordan Rhodes

Former Blackburn Rovers winger Keith Gillespie has encouraged the club to keep hold of Jordan Rhodes during the January transfer window.

Recent reports have suggested that the Championship outfit could be forced to part with the 23-year-old in order to ease their financial problems.

However, speaking to Sports Mole, Gillespie, who spent five years at Ewood Park, has insisted that Rhodes could be the difference between Rovers challenging for promotion and falling short.

"They've got a chance of the playoffs, particularly if Jordan Rhodes keeps scoring goals like he does," said the former Northern Ireland international. "He's obviously a goalscorer.

"He's scored goals wherever he has been and if Blackburn want to push towards the top six they are going to need to keep hold of their best players and he is certainly one of those.

"Take him out of the team and they would struggle to score goals consistently."

Rhodes has scored 10 goals in 18 appearances this term.

You can purchase a copy of Gillespie's autobiography - 'How Not To Be A Football Millionaire' - by copying and pasting this link into your search bar: http://www.mirrorcollection.co.uk/products/details/search_results/keith_gillespie/