AS the players prepare to depart for their second part of their pre-season camp in Portugal, striker Roque Santa Cruz was delighted back in familiar surroundings in Germany.

Last season's top scorer spent eight seasons with Bayern Munich, and the lake district of Tegernsee was always their summer destination. A routine that was taken up by former Rovers boss Mark Hughes.

Indeed two summers ago the Paraguay hitman was watched by Hughes as Bayern defeated local side Rottach Egern 14-1, Santa Cruz himself getting four goals in that game. So Roque always knew he'd be back with Rovers.

"I knew we would be coming back because Blackburn always came here," said Santa Cruz. "So I knew as soon as I signed I'd be coming back to Tegernsee.

"It is a good place to stay and train, we will try to give our best here in the training camp, we'll try to work hard to be fit for the new season.

"We know it is going to be another hard season so we have to try to be as concentrated as possible and take all the good that these training camps give us."

Like every other player in the team, Roque is starting to get used to the new managerial team at the club, with these training camps being the ideal way to do so.

Roque added: "We are starting to get to know each other, every session is a part of getting to know each other and a part of knowing the mentality and what they want from our game."

Rovers were quickly out of the blocks in last season's league campaign, and another strong start is essential.

"We need a good start, we need to start winning games quickly and I think that when we start playing. I will work just as hard as last year and hopefully I will get as many goals."