MORTEN Gamst Pedersen is gearing himself up for a ‘scrap for places’ at Ewood Park and insists the extra competition can only help take Rovers to another level.

Roque Santa Cruz and Jermaine Jones have already been brought in by Steve Kean this month and, with the search still ongoing with five days left of the transfer window, the boss looks set to have a selection dilemma on his hands.

Steven Nzonzi made his long-awaited return from injury during the win over West Bromwich Albion on Sunday and, with Keith Andrews and Vince Grella also close to full fitness, Kean will soon be spoilt for choice.

Rovers travel to Aston Villa for an FA Cup fourth round tie on Saturday with an almost fully-fit squad available and Pedersen believes that can only be good for the future.

Pedersen said: “If you perform well you will play.

"The most important thing is to bring a player in that will be better.

"If a player that is better comes in then I will say I have to raise my level to play.

“It will make me better and make him better.

“Players like Roque Santa Cruz can come in and strengthen us.

“There is no reason to go out and buy players who won’t do that but the players we have brought in look very good.

“If you can get players in then great. My thought would be to show I can be better than him and can keep him out of the team.

“That is the mentality you need. Maybe not every footballer in the world thinks like that, but I do.”

Discussions are understood to be ongoing with team skipper Chris Samba about signing a bumper new deal, after club captain Ryan Nelsen pledged the rest of his career to the club last week.

Kean has also admitted he is hoping to get the likes of Michel Salgado, Jason Roberts, Paul Robinson and Mark Bunn to extend their contracts with the club.

Pedersen himself is already tied to Rovers long term as the club look to mix the club’s proud past with an exciting future.

Pedersen said: “We don’t have any Messis in the team but we have a good bunch of people working hard and that is a part of the club.

“It is a family club, people help each other and that us why we have been doing well.

“I think having some players sign long-term deals to stay at the club means the club will keep its traditions.”