Ian Holloway has dismissed reports striker Jermaine Easter is close to leaving Millwall.

The 32-year-old is a target of Bristol Rovers, Crawley Town and Notts County but Holloway, who gave Easter a new contract in the summer, insists the striker remains central to his plans.

“He could have gone out on loan and I’ve not let him go out on loan,” Holloway said.

“He’s scored two in the last two reserve games so he’s back in the fold.

“I’ve had a look at some of the young kids.

“Jermaine’s outplayed them in the last two weeks so he’s coming back in.

“I told him: ‘You’re one of the ones out of contract at the end of the season, get your agent busy because everybody needs to have a job in the summer and he’s responded by showing me that he scored two goals in the last two games.

“We’ve had scouts at the last two games and they all wanted him.

“Bristol Rovers were one of them, so was Notts County.

“I like what he’s doing so he’s back in the fold.

“Whether he starts, whether he’s on the bench, or whether he’s just travelling with the squad he’s earned the right to be there.”

Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke this week told BBC Radio Bristol “(Easter’s) a Cardiff boy and is wanting to get home”, but Holloway is adamant that’s far from the case.

“Jermaine Easter’s good friends with their manager, and they saw each other and had a meal the other week because they are friends,” he said.

“They’ve put two and two together and got 186.”

Follow us on Twitter @NewsShopperSprt