BLACKBURN midfielder Robbie Savage is backing Mark Hughes to land the players he needs to make Rovers a force in Europe next season.

Hughes is bracing himself for a busy summer of wheeling and dealing in the transfer market as he looks to strengthen his squad in preparation for a UEFA Cup campaign.

And Savage believes the canny Welshman is ready to work wonders again on a tight budget, with a proven strike-partner for Craig Bellamy believed to be top of the manager's wish-list.

"I think some money will be made available for the manager to strengthen in a few areas over the summer, but it's not for me to say who we should and shouldn't be signing," said Savage.

"Over the last 18 months, Mark Hughes has made some brilliant signings in the transfer market and I'm sure he'll do that again this summer.

"In the time he's been here, I think Mark has spent less than £10 million on new players, but he's worked wonders to take Blackburn from where they were into Europe.

"Strengthening the squad is part and parcel of getting into Europe, but I'd like to think the players who got the club there will get the chance to prove they can perform in the UEFA Cup next season.

"But if we can strengthen, and keep the players we've already got, then I don't see why we can't do well in Europe."

Rovers have already been linked with a string of potential signings, including Chelsea's Eidur Gudjohnsen, Emile Heskey at Birmingham and former Rovers favourite Chris Sutton.

Porto striker Benni McCarthy, who Hughes tried to sign last summer, may also re-emerge as a possible target over the coming weeks and months.