PAUL Dickov reckons leading Blackburn Rovers back into Europe would rank as one of the greatest feats of his professional career.

The veteran striker, who is hoping to make a shock return to action against Arsenal at the weekend, has already tasted European success after winning the Cup Winners' Cup with the Gunners in 1994.

However, the 33-year-old believes the challenge of firing Rovers into Europe would rank as an even bigger achievement - particularly if Mark Hughes' side end up pipping Arsenal to a UEFA Cup spot during the final months of the season.

"I got a Cup Winners' Cup medal when I was at Arsenal," said Dickov, who is back in contention for a first team place after four weeks out with a collarbone injury.

"I was in the squad and got on the bench and sneaked a medal in the end, which was fantastic.

"But I think to qualify with Blackburn Rovers would be up there as one of my highest achievements, especially after the season we had last year.

"I think it shows how far we've come. Even last year when we were in a relegation battle we knew that if we kept the nucleus of the team together - we knew the manager was going to add quality and that we could kick on.

"Even last season, although we were down there we didn't feel that we were that far away from teams six, seven or eight places above us."

Rovers could actually break into the top six this weekend for the first team this season if they can beat the Gunners at Ewood Park.

At the moment, Mark Hughes' side are one point behind Arsenal, who currently occupy fifth position, and they could strike a huge psychological blow in the battle for Europe if they secure a ninth home win of the season.

"The manager's set different targets at different stages of the season," said Dickov.

"One of those targets was to accumulate enough points that would push us for a European place.

"At the minute, we're bang on - we're heading for that.

"But we've got a lot of hard games coming up, starting with the Arsenal game.

"At the start of the season, though, if you'd told me by February we would be playing Arsenal to go above them, you'd probably have laughed a little bit.

"I'm one of these who likes to dream a little bit and think we can push on and that a European place is in our grasp."

Meanwhile, Dickov is hoping to face his former club after making a miraculous recovery from the broken collarbone he suffered in Rovers' 1-0 win at Newcastle last month.

At first, the medics feared the Scotland international could be sidelined for several months, but he has made rapid progress with his rehabilitation and, assuming there's no further set-backs between now and the weekend, he should be in the squad for the Gunners' visit.