Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has spoken of his delight at the news that Jason Roberts has been awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours List announced today.

The Rovers striker has been given the award for his charitable work through his Jason Roberts Foundation that operates in the UK and the Caribbean to encourage young people to play football.

On hearing the news of the striker's award, the Rovers manager said: "It is magnificent. From his point of view it is a great honour for him, for all the work he has done in his foundation.

"I think we all should look at it and say there is a lot of negativity around the world of football about what players do and don't do - most of it in the papers is on the downside.

"This is one of the upsides on the much charity work that goes on in football by people like Jason and many others."