Kean on the defensive over Gomes

When a celebrated striker with a long career of solid national and international success behind him rolls into a club that some would consider 'beneath' him at the end of his career the usual suspicions crop up.

And that is certainly the case with Nuno Gomes.

Upon his signing there were accusations that he was coming in for the pay day combined with fears that at 36 his best days are well and truly behind him.

All valid queries over a guy that sources in Portugal would have you believe is winding down after a relatively low goal output in recent seasons.

But Rovers manager Steve Kean has been quick to bat away suggestions this is all to be the case.

Kean told the Lancashire Telegraph - "If Nuno had wanted to go into the sunset he would have gone to Qatar or LA, he wouldn`t have come to the north west.

"I know what sort of financial package he could have got elsewhere. He has certainly not come here to graze.

"I have been talking to most of the players and they are telling me they want to stay. Whether they are telling their agents something else I don`t know.

"We would like to keep the majority of the squad together. We think we can have, if not the best squad, one of the best squads in the league."

Still the best salesman in town.

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