Blackburn midfielder Brett Emerton is confident the sale of striker Roque Santa Cruz to Manchester City will not affect the stability of the squad. "Roque has been fantastic for Blackburn Rovers," said the Australia midfielder, who is confident of being fit for the start of the season having ruptured a cruciate knee ligament in January.

"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.

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

Emerton added in the Lancashire Telegraph: "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."