FRIENDS in high places are always useful so no doubt Blackburn striker Jay Bothroyd will carefully nuture his friendship with Saadi Gaddafi, the son of the Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

The pair were both signed by Italian club Perugia 18 months ago and as the Libyan was the only English speaker in the squad, he and Bothroyd hooked up.

Bothroyd, who moved to Rovers on loan in the summer, said: "He's a nice guy, I was quite friendly with him because he can speak English and we still speak now.

"There was a lot of pressure on him because of who he is and everyone wants to bring him down.

"He was an alright player actually, it was a demanding training regime and when you come from living in a castle and you have not trained every day of your life it's difficult to adapt and it takes a toll on your body.

"I think he's handled it pretty well. He's still there and doing okay but he's injured at the moment.

"He's a nice guy, really down to earth. You wouldn't think that he has 10 billion in his bank account."

Gaddafi has been plagued by a back problem and earlier this year served a three-month ban after testing positive for steroids he believed he took unknowingly while being treated for the injury.

Many in Italy viewed Gaddafi's signing as a publicity stunt by Perugia's unconventional president Luciano Gaucci, who also threatened to sign a female Swedish international player for his side.

Bothroyd added: "I don't think there was ever going to be a girl playing for the team - though I thought it could have been interesting in the changing rooms!"