BLACKBURN Rovers chairman John Williams has warned Kevin Keegan he has no intention of allowing winger David Bentley to quit Ewood Park.

The Newcastle United manager has monitored Bentley's progress from his early days at Arsenal - when Keegan was Manchester City boss - and is believed to be weighing up a £10m bid for the 23-year-old wideman.

Bentley featured only eight times under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal during his five-year stay in North London. But since he joined Rovers the winger has been a revelation.

He has already been labelled as David Beckham's natural successor on the right of England's midfield, despite controversially pulling out of the Under-21s UEFA Championships last summer with fatigue.

Bentley has gone on to win two full caps for his country and put in several sparkling displays this term, scoring eight times for Hughes' side.

The former Gunner is exactly the type of player that will excite both Keegan and the Newcastle fans, and boasts the type of skills that have tempted the Magpies manager in the past. He has pace, scores goals and asks questions of opposition defenders with his pin-point delivery.

Newcastle supporters have witnessed the international's ability first hand when he scored twice in Rovers' 3-1 victory in December.

But tempting Blackburn to part with Bentley may cost more than £10m. The midfielder recently signed a new three-year contract, which will take him up to the end of 2010, and Rovers are keen to tie him to a longer-term deal and insert a sell-on clause to put potential suitors off.

The Rovers chairman insisted his star player is not for sale and admitted an approach from Newcastle would not be welcome.

"Our position is clear, David Bentley is not for sale," said Williams. "We've not heard anything from Newcastle or anyone else and we wouldn't welcome any interest

"We want to sit down with David and his agent to discuss a new deal.

"We felt that his performances this season were such that it warranted us to sit down with him and discuss a new contract and talks are progressing well."

Absent striker Obafemi Martins, meanwhile, believes a UEFA Cup place is well within Newcastle's reach now Keegan has returned to take over the struggling club.

The United frontman was preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria when the club dispensed with Sam Allardyce's services. Martins expressed his surprise at the decision but believes the club have made the right decision in replacing the former Bolton boss with Keegan.

The 22-year-old forward reckons Keegan could be the catalyst to turning around the underachieving club and insisted winning a UEFA Cup place is still on the United radar, despite their poor form and lowly position.

"I do not know him (Keegan) as a coach, although people in Newcastle have always spoken very highly of him," said Martins, who was in the Nigeria side which lost their opening Africa Cup of Nations fixture 1-0 to the Ivory Coast.

"Keegan knows the Premier League well so I think he is the right man for the job.

"I have heard about the option of Alan Shearer returning, but it is up to the board. I just want what is best for the club.

"I believe Newcastle have the players to fight for a place in the UEFA Cup and not worry about relegation.

"It is difficult for me not to be there at this tough time but I think people understand that it is important for me to play for my country."

Newcastle have also been linked with a move for Liverpool's left-sided defender-cum-midfielder John Arne Riise. The Norwegian was left out of the Reds' squad for the game against Aston Villa on Monday night. He has been linked with a move to Villa, but Keegan would be interested if he was allowed to leave Anfield.