NIKOLA Kalinic has set his sights on helping to bring European football back to Ewood Park after finally being given permission to seal a £6million move to Blackburn Rovers.

The Croatian ace saw a week of uncertainty finish in relief yesterday afternoon, after being granted a work permit at a hearing in London, and will put pen to paper to complete his switch from Hajduk Split today.

The 21-year-old will sign a four-year deal in East Lancashire and joins Benni McCarthy, Jason Roberts, Franco Di Santo and Paul Gallagher in battling for a starting place in Sam Allardyce’s attack.

He is already relishing the Premier League challenge ahead but, while aware of the competition for places, is determined to establish a regular role for himself this campaign.

He said: “Blackburn has a great team. They have four or five nice players in attack.

“Most of the guys are 30 and over and I’m young and I have still much to learn. I’m not afraid of the competition and positive that I can play at the starting XI.

“I hope we are ready for the start of the Premier League and we will try to catch a Europe spot. I believe the next champions will be Liverpool.”

The Croatian international has already been tipped to be his country’s “future” by national team boss Slaven Bilic and, with 32 goals in just 59 appearances for Split, could provide that predatory instinct currently lacking at Ewood Park.

He has however missed of most of pre-season through injury and the wait over his work permit and has urged the Ewood Park faithful to show a bit of patience as he adjusts to life in England.

“Every day I’m working with the fitness coach at Blackburn,” he said. “We have double programme, morning and afternoon, because I was two months out of real training with the team.

“I have spend time with Di Santo – we came to Blackburn at the same time.

“In the next day or two my girlfriend Vanja will arrive and we will find a place to live. I’m still living in a hotel at the moment.

“My biggest problem in England is how to drive on the wrong side of the road and, of course, the gearstick is on the wrong side too. I will probably buy an automatic – that will help me focus on the road.”

Kalinic’s lack of match sharpness will mean he won’t feature in Saturday’s Premier League opener against Manchester City, but his arrival will eventually add to Sam Allardyce’s striking options, as the Rovers boss looks to sharpen his attack.