Premiership scouts watch Iron duo

By Paul Fletcher

I'm very aware of which clubs are around and showing an interest Brian Laws

Scunthorpe manager Brian Laws admits that he could struggle to keep strike duo Billy Sharp and Andy Keogh.

Sharp, 20, is League One's top scorer with nine goals, while Keogh, also 20, has netted three times.

"I'd be foolish to think they are not creating interest," Iron boss Laws told BBC Sport. "We had seven or eight Premiership scouts at our last game.

"Money is always the root of all evil and every player has his price but we are determined to keep them."

Sharp started his career at Sheffield United and had a spell on loan at Rushden & Diamonds before joining Scunthorpe for £100,000 in August 2005. He has since scored 32 league goals in 49 starts.

Keogh started his career with Leeds and had loans at Scunthorpe and Bury before signing a permanent deal with the Iron for £50,000 in February 2005.

Scunthorpe are currently fourth in the League One table and Laws, who is in his 10th year in charge at Glanford Park, insists that he is fully aware of the interest in his young side.

"I'd be a very naive manager if I did not think somebody might come in for them," added Laws.

"I'm very aware of which clubs are around. The list of scouts gets longer and stronger every week.

This is the best Scunthorpe team I have worked with Brian Laws

"There is an intensity and interest shown by them, not just in the two strikers either. Matthew Sparrow and Marcus Williams are doing really, really well."

And Laws believes the regular presence of scouts at Glanford Park is testimony to the quality of his players.

"It is a good sign that shows we are going in the right direction," added the 45-year-old.

"This is by far the best team that I have worked with. It is a team that I think can do really well.

"I said to the players in the summer that we have a good bunch who want to achieve success and do well for themselves. There is a togetherness about them that I have not seen for a long time."

Last season the Iron finished in mid-table - and having survived the perilous first season in a higher division Laws has set his sights high.

"We have players in the team who can do really well - not just at this club but perhaps at a higher level," said the Iron boss.

"Younger players are becoming more mature and have been more consistent, we changed one or two things round in training and the good confidence level is a major factor.

"We know we are going to score so if we can keep it tight at the back we will win games."