ROY Keane has rejected an offer for teenage striker Jordan Rhodes.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

derek.davis@archant.co.uk

ROY Keane has rejected an offer for teenage striker Jordan Rhodes.

The Blues boss revealed the bid after Rhodes ahs scored the goal that sealed Ipswich's 2-0 friendly win over Colchester United.

Coupled with a goal in the win at Brentford Rhodes has given Keane a serious nudge about using him more often and not look to sell him.

Keane said: “I have been really impressed with Jordan and I have had a lot of phone calls about him. “We did turn down one offer for him but he is in this group on merit.

“If he continues to put the ball in the back of the net then that will do the talking for me.

“As much as I get feedback from staff I judge players from my own eyes and the boy could not have done any more when he has come on.

“He scored at Brentford and even in other games he has come on he has looked a threat and that is a good thing to have as a striker - trust me.

While Keane refused to name the club involved it is known that Brentford boss Andy Scott spoke to Keane before the game at Griffin Park about the possibility of taking him on loan but got no joy then.

Rhodes showed while on loan at Brentford, and Rochdale and before that Oxford, that he is clinical in front of goal and showed that against the U's putting away his chance less than a minute after going on as a substitute.

Keane said: “When Jordan went through you felt he was going to score all day long and that is nice to have - trust me.

“As a manager I look at my players on the bench and with him I feel he can give us something. He is still a young player and there is a lot about the game he can work on but his attitude is spot on and he will be given every opportunity.”

Rhodes was brought to the club for �5,000 from Barnsley by Joe Royle after he had taken on Jordan's dad Andy Rhodes as goalkeeping coach. Or the Blues

The Yorkshire-born striker made his first team debut against The Tykes in March last year and netted his first senior goal in the 1-1 draw with Cardiff City in April, 2008.