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

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."

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.