Rovers for top six finish - you bet!

After a feverish summer of transfer activity at Ewood Park, I believe Mark Hughes has put together a squad that is capable of matching last season's top six finish - and possibly even bettering it!

Like most supporters, I was worried when Craig Bellamy left for Liverpool earlier in the summer.

With the gobby Welshman out of the equation, I couldn't see where the goals were going to come from.

But fair play to Sparky. He went out and got three strikers in for less than it cost Rafa Benitez to buy Bellamy, which you've got to say is great business.

Of the three new boys, Benni McCarthy's the one that excites me the most.

Although I've never seen him in the flesh, he certainly comes with the right pedigree, having scored goals consistently both at international and Champions League level.

By all accounts, he's looked a class act in pre-season, scoring three times in three appearances, and if he shows the hunger you need to succeed in the Premiership then I can see him being one of the season's surprise packages.

As for Jason Roberts, well, we all know what we've got with him.

He was a big part of Wigan's success last season, scoring 14 goals and generally looking a real handful.

To sign him for £2 million then was a no-brainer on Hughes' part, especially when Wigan paid more than twice that much for Emile Heskey.

That then leaves us with Franny Jeffers, who, perhaps, is the most intriguing of the three signings.

This is probably his last chance at Premiership level, but if he rediscovers the kind of form that made him a big hit at Everton then he could turn out to be one of the bargains of the summer.

For whatever reason, over the last three years he appears to have lost his way in the game, but if anyone can get him back on the right path then surely it's Sparky.

With those three on board, Hughes now has more attacking options than he did last season - even without Bellamy.

That's why I'm backing Rovers to be right up there once again. Let the fun begin!