Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes has backed Craig Bellamy to put his recent past behind him and solve his sideÂ’s goalscoring problems this season.
Hughes hardly needs reminding that RoversÂ’ total of 32 goals was the lowest in the Barclays Premiership last season and a major contributor to a relegation-threatened campaign.
His double summer swoop for Bellamy and Ipswich TownÂ’s Shefki Kuqi clearly indicated where his priorities lie as he targets a much-improved campaign, starting with RoversÂ’ Barclays Premiership opener at West Ham United.
And Hughes insists he remains utterly unconcerned by the baggage Bellamy brings following his departure from Newcastle United, to join a squad which boasting the likes of Robbie Savage and Paul Dickov is already well-stocked in the character department.
Hughes said: “I did not sign them because they are fiery characters, I signed them because they are good players and it excites you to know they will be playing with you rather than against you.
“Craig does not have any baggage at this club. He is proven at this level and having seen them in the pre-season I am sure he and Shefki are going to be very successful at this club.”
Bellamy looks like winning his battle to make his competitive Rovers debut at Upton Park despite the ankle injury which has severely restricted his pre-season campaign.
Provided he does not suffer a late reaction Bellamy is set to start but New Zealander Ryan Nelsen is more doubtful with a knee problem, and Italian Lorenzo Amoruso is still definitely out.
Hughes added: “We have more of a cutting edge now and that is plain for everyone to see.
“The problem with us last season was we were nice and solid defensively but we never had the clinical finishing we needed.
“We had to prioritise our transfer targets and we did that. Now we feel we have more different options and a little bit more quality in the goalscoring stakes.
“Expectations are higher this time and we did a lot of good work last season - it was a hard season which was well documented but now I believe we will reap the benefits from that.”
Alan Pardew could give four players their West Ham debuts against Rovers.
Summer signings Paul Konchesky and Danny Gabbidon are set to line up in defence, former Manchester United keeper Roy Carroll starts in goal and Israel midfielder Yossi Benayoun could feature on the right of midfield.
Wales defender Gabbidon, his central defensive partner Anton Ferdinand, Benayoun and midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker are all in line to make their top-flight bows.
Christian Dailly will captain the side from the centre of midfield while Teddy Sheringham is in line to make his Barclays Premiership return alongside either Bobby Zamora or Marlon Harewood.
Pardew is missing centre-back James Collins (calf) and left-back Clive Clarke (ankle). Collins will be out for the first few games of the season but Clarke is due to start training on Monday.
The West Ham boss heads into his first season as a Barclays Premiership manager determined to "carry the flag" for those he feels never get their chance at the highest level.
"I have managed for five full seasons in the Football League. There are some fantastic coaches and some fantastic managers in the Football League and yet they are always overlooked when the Premiership jobs come up," said Pardew.
"How is that trend going to break? The only real way to get into the Premiership is to get promoted and to make a reputation for yourself.
"In some ways I carry the flag, as does Wigan manager Paul Jewell. I hope that Paul Jewell and I do terrifically well this season and that maybe English coaches and English managers in the level below get the respect they deserve and maybe get the chance to manage in the Premiership.
"For me not being a big name in terms of being a footballer, it is about earning my right to be here."
Pardew, the former Crystal Palace midfielder, is in the market for a top-class goalscorer after missing out with bids - all in the region of £6million - for Peter Crouch, Milan Baros and Monaco striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
And he promised West Ham fans that a new striker will be brought in before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
"We will definitely do some business in the next couple of weeks," he said.
"We have targets and it's really where I put my money. There is no rush. The boys that brought us up deserve a chance. It is only right I give them their platform."
West Ham United (from): Carroll, Repka, Konchesky, Gabbidon, Ferdinand, Dailly, Reo-Coker, Etherington, Benayoun, Sheringham, Harewood, Zamora, Hislop, Ward, Noble, Fletcher, Newton, Mullins.
Blackburn Rovers (from): Friedel, Neill, Todd, Flitcroft, Nelsen, Emerton, Savage, Kuqi, Dickov, Bellamy, Pedersen, Reid, Mokoena, Tugay, Gresko, Thompson, Gallagher, Matteo, McEveley, Gray, Enckelman.