One to watch by Dave Stanford

Jason Roberts is a Rover with some considerable pedigree.

A nephew of the former England and West Bromwich Albion striker Cyrille Regis, it is hardly surprising the 21-year-old is making a name for himself in the division two scoring charts.

He may only have just turned 21 and made his Football League debut just last year, but already Roberts is an international, has been the subject of two quarter of a million pound transfers in the space of 12 months and is the leading scorer in this year's FA Cup competition.

He is the Pirates' powerhouse; happiest swashbuckling his way past defenders to plunder a rich booty of goals, goals and more goals - some 16 in all competitions so far.

It is a style that has already earned him international honours with Grenada and ensured he has become something of a cult hero at the Memorial Ground.

Born in west London, Roberts, just like Regis, started his career with his near-hometown club Hayes in the Nationwide Conference.

His goal plundering made him one of the rising stars of the 'fifth division' and, not surprisingly, the big guns were soon hovering overhead.

And just like his famous uncle, Roberts was soon Midlands-bound although not to the Hawthorns but to the daunting Molineux.

It was Wolverhampton Wanderers who took a chance on the then raw 19-year-old, splashing out some £250,000 at the end of 1997.

It is a sum unlikely to have put a major dent in the finances of Sir Jack Hayward but it was a hefty gamble nonetheless for a non-league player - and a gamble that seemed to backfire.

Roberts was never to make a league appearance for Wolves.

But his potential was underlined when he was farmed out on loan to then division three promotion chasers Torquay United and he bagged six goals in just 14 appearances.

There then followed another loan spell at Rovers' bitter neighbours, Bristol City, where Roberts was again quick to impress.

After three appearances and one goal a permanent switch to the Robins seemed on the cards. But when City tried to block an international call-up the ever-committed Roberts packed his bags and walked out of Ashton Gate.

In the close season, Bristol Rovers saved him from his Molineux misery, matching pound for pound what Wolves had paid for his services from Hayes.

His walkout at City had guaranteed Roberts hero status with the Rovers' faithful without ever kicking a ball for the club.

It was just as well. After 17 appearances had realised just one goal, Roberts' goalscoring touch appeared to have evaporated.

But not for long. His form and partnership with Jamie Cureton meant the loss of potent poacher Barry Hayles to Fulham for £2million in November was hardly felt.

The next 15 games brought a goal a match including seven in the FA Cup as Rovers progressed through to the fifth round only to lose 4-1 against Barnsley.

Roberts' consolation goal at Oakwell means he is the historic competition's top scorer this season ahead of this weekend's quarter-finals.

Uncle Cyrille will be proud as punch.

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