MANAGER Mark Hughes believes that Francis Jeffers will be a big hit outside the Premier League, after the former Everton and Arsenal forward's future at Ewood Park looked limited following the arrivals of Roque Santa Cruz and Maceo Rigters this summer.

As the 26-year-old striker looked set to complete a permanent move to Championship club Sheffield Wednesday, the Rovers boss said: "I feel Franny needs to go somewhere else to start playing football again."

Franny joined Rovers from Charlton Athletic last summer, but failed to secure a regular place in the starting line-up, scoring just one goal in 15 appearances for the club.

Hughes added: "You could never really predict how it was going to go. He was unlucky in fairness to him, he had a little spell when he was getting near to a place and then he got injured.

"Obviously then Matt Derbyshire came to the fore and he found it very difficult once Jason Roberts came back into consideration.

"So for his own career he needed to move on, he hasn't really had a settled run in a side for maybe two or three seasons.

"I'm sure he'll be a great success playing week-in week-out, because he's a quality player."