JASON Roberts is ready to do all he can to help David Goodwillie become a Premier League hit – as he relishes the growing battle for places at Ewood Park.

Goodwillie marked his Rovers debut with a goal in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Kilmarnock and his new Rovers team-mate insists he will be made to feel welcome at Ewood Park.

Roberts himself fired in a first-half brace at Rugby Park and, after a first glimpse at Rovers’ arrival from Dundee United, is looking forward to seeing more as the new Premier League season gets ready to kick off.

Roberts said: “Only time will tell how David finds the switch to England.

"Notoriously it is a hard change over from many leagues into the Premier League, but he has shown the qualities in the Scottish Premier League and it is a good division.

“He obviously knows where the net is and if he can translate that to the Premier League then we have a player on our hands.

"At his age, he has an opportunity to learn from the boys around him and learn from the manager and have an opportunity to progress.

“The ability is there and hopefully it will come through.”

Goodwillie, 22, joins the likes of Martin Olsson, Junior Hoilett, Steven Nzonzi, Grant Hanley, Mauro Formica and Ruben Rochina in the club’s growing list of exciting youngsters.

And Roberts is determined to help Goodwillie feel right at home.

“From my point of view it is all positive when you have good young players coming through,” said Roberts.

“We are very, very lucky to have such good young players at this club.

“David Goodwillie will add to that. It is exciting and I see my job as not only to compete with him but to help him come through and be the player we all hope he can be.

“It has been happening here for years. We have had top players here and I would like to think I have a been a good partner for all those who have come through and scored a lot of goals here.

“Hopefully David Goodwillie will be able to make a name for himself in the Premier League.

“Certainly he is going to have all the backing from myself and the rest of the players.

“It is going to be different for him coming from Scotland.

“But for my part I will do everything on and off the pitch to help him.”