TONY Parkes today slapped a 'hands off' tag on Ewood Park's prize asset with the message: Graeme Le Saux will not leave.

The England full-back played 45 minutes of last night's 2-0 win over Italy in the Le Tournoi Tournament in Nantes.

And new Rovers boss Roy Hodgson, who is at Le Tournoi but was not at last night's game, is likely to take the opportunity to again speak with the defender at some stage during the competition

Italian champions Juventus were linked with Le Saux this week and the player has made it clear he may relish a fresh challenge - either at home or on the continent. But caretaker Parkes again underlined Rovers' unshakable stance.

He said: "Blackburn do not want him to leave and he is not going to leave.

"Graeme Le Saux will be back at Brockhall for the start of pre-season training. "There is a lot of speculation linking him to this club and that but the player is under contract at Blackburn and that is the situation.

"The link with Juventus was certainly news to me. We've had no approach at all from them.

"The only time we take things seriously is when we get an offer from a club. That has not happened.

"There is nothing concrete in any of the speculation and it is just newspaper talk as far as we are concerned."

England's victory over Italy - their first in 20 years - has set up England for a monumental World Cup showdown against the Italians in Rome in October.

And Rovers goalkeeper Tim Flowers did his number two chances no harm with a string of excellent saves, most notably a brilliant stop to deny Dino Baggio on the stroke of half-time.

Rovers are expected to announce at least three domestic pre-season dates this week with a fixture against a Nationwide First Division team and a match in Scotland pencilled in.

Reports in the North East today again linked Rovers with Sunderland centre-half Richard Ord. But that is one position where Rovers have an embarrassment of riches and unlikely to be looking to strengthen.

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