Blackburn rovers midfielder Brett Emerton is confident the club can overcome the loss of striker Roque Santa Cruz. The Australian international, who is currently sidelined with a knee injury, says the squad is strong enough to push through such obstacles despite the loss of such a competent goal scorer.

"Roque has been fantastic for Blackburn Rovers," Emerton told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

"He is a great player and a great guy and we will miss him, but these things happen in football, players come and players go.

"If you look at how the team finished last season, they did it without the injured Roque and without Matt Derbyshire (recently signed with Olympiakos).

"You also had players like myself, Steven Reid and David Dunn who were injured.

"I am sure the squad will be full of confidence at the way we finished the season, it was European form, and with players coming back and a few new signings it will be like a new start."