EX-CLARET Ade Akinbiyi believes Burnley’s number nine shirt means too much to Jay Rodriguez to consider leaving this season.

The 22-year-old was the subject of bids by Southampton and an enquiry by Ipswich Town during the transfer window.

The Clarets turned down two offers from Championship rivals Saints, which were understood to have topped £5million.

And Akinbiyi is relieved that the striker is staying with his boyhood club.

“I knew a few clubs were enquiring about him. Southampton and Ipswich were really keen on him. But the best thing for him was to stay at Burnley, 100 per cent. It’s the “It’s the best thing for his development,” said Burnley’s former number nine.

“Every striker wants the number nine or 10 shirt. He will be buzzing about it. And this year - all being well - he will make a name for himself. I’m sure of it.

“He’s got to prove himself and get more goals and keep playing regular football.

“And by playing regular games he will keep getting better.

“He’s getting bigger and stronger all the time and there are teams constantly keeping their eye on him.

“He’s an English lad as well, which is what a lot of managers are looking for.

“This time next year it might be difficult to keep hold of him.

“But for now I think the best thing for him and the club is that he stays there.”

And Akinbiyi, who spent three years at Turf Moor across two spells, is looking forward to watching Rodriguez’s partnership with Charlie Austin develop.

The pair have scored five goals each in the first six games this season, and Akinbiyi believes there is more to come.

“It’s disappointing that Pato’s injured, but Jay’s got a new partner and they’re starting to hit it off well.

“It will be good for Charlie that he has started to score goals and Jay can add to that,” said the 36-year-old, who cites Gifton Noel Williams as his best Clarets strike partner.

“He set me up with all my goals.

“If you’re working hard in training you begin to automatically know what each other is going to do in games. You get that telepathy the more you play together.

“And if you can get on well off the field as well as on it - like me and Gifton did - that’s even better, and Jay and Charlie seem to be doing that.”

Akinbiyi added: “It’s important the whole team gets on well and there is still a good spirit at Burnley.

“The manager’s getting his new players and structuring things together.

“They all need time for things to gel.

“They have a young team there now, but I still think experience is important.

"Players like Brian Jensen can bring that and lead them from the back.

“They did well at Derby and they will start to click.

"It might take another game or two on the back of that though so people have got to be patient.”

Exclusive interview with Mike Conroy plus the Andrew Greaves column in today’s Lancashire Telegraph newspaper.