Roberts backs Rovers for Europe

Jason Roberts believes Blackburn are primed for a Champions League challenge this season and is determined to be part of it.

The Rovers striker was dropped to the bench after starting on the opening day at Middlesbrough and was then out for two months with a thigh injury.

The 29-year-old has just returned to full fitness, though, and is hoping to reclaim a starting berth as Blackburn aim to break into the top four over the festive period.

Saturday’s 3-1 win over Newcastle put them eighth in the Barclays Premier League, four points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, with games against West Ham and lowly Wigan next up for Rovers.

“Although Newcastle are having a hard time, they are a good side, so we’ve got to be very happy with that,” said Roberts. “We just hope to get on a run now and start winning more.

“There’s a clutch of clubs that are all vying for Europe or pushing for the top four. It’s going to be hard but I don’t see why we can’t go into every game believing we can win.

“We’re starting to show people that outside the top four, we’re one of the clubs that can challenge and it could be a really exciting season for us.”

Manager Mark Hughes has built a strong squad at Ewood Park and Rovers are now almost at full strength with midfield pair Steven Reid and Robbie Savage having also returned from injury.

Roberts knows that will stand Blackburn in good stead over the coming weeks but the former Wigan striker is determined to fight for his place.

“We’ve got a lot of talent in the squad, not only up front but in all different positions,” he said.

“There’s competition for places everywhere, and if you start to look at that and become negative, you’re going to have a real problem. I think the best way of dealing with it is to remain focused and try to earn a chance to impress.”

Roberts was speaking at a fundraising dinner in Manchester for his charity, the Jason Roberts Foundation, which the London-born Grenada international launched earlier this year to help disadvantaged young people in the UK and Grenada.

“I was inspired by the football in the community schemes at Wigan and Blackburn,” he said. “With things like that you see that football and sport really make a difference in people’s lives.

“I felt that going into communities was something I could really help to do, especially in areas the football in community departments can’t get to because they can’t go everywhere.

“But also, one of my real passions is the Caribbean. There’s no infrastructure in Grenada – there’s no kids’ teams, no community programmes and no youth clubs. We had three soccer schools there with 600 kids and being able to help them as well as the kids who have missed out here is very special to me.”