CRAIG Bellamy today insisted Mark Hughes is the man to bring the best out of him following his move to Blackburn Rovers.

The 25-year-old striker finally brought the curtain down on his Newcastle career last night when he joined Rovers in a deal thought to be worth close to £5 million.

And the Welshman says it was the opportunity to improve himself as a player under Hughes which ultimately persuaded him to snub the advances of Everton and Aston Villa in favour of a move to Ewood.

"I'm 25, I've got a lot to improve on, I feel I can get better as a player and that's why I'm here - to be with people who have worked with me since I was 19," said Bellamy.

"Football moves on, it's about me now and trying to do as well as I can for Blackburn Rovers.

"They can give me every chance to improve as a player, I'm nowhere near the finishing line yet, and I know that for me, personally, there's another level to go on to."

Bellamy's time at Newcastle had started to turn sour following a fall out with manager Graeme Souness last season, in which he branded the Scot a liar on TV.

But the former Norwich and Coventry star insists he is not a destructive influence, despite his bad boy reputation.

"This is about Craig Bellamy being happy and me showing people I'm not a destructive influence," said the striker, who has signed a four year deal with Rovers.

"I thought last season was a very good season for me, but people obviously won't remember the football side of things (because of everything else that happened).

"People forget that I scored 22 goals last season and that was only one of several highlights of the season.

"But I still feel there's a lot I can improve on and with the staff they've got here in Mark Hughes, Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki, I certainly feel I will otherwise I wouldn't be here."

Bellamy admitted linking up with ex-Wales manager Hughes and former international team-mate Robbie Savage was a major factor in his decision to join Rovers.

And he believes his new club are now capable of mounting a charge for Europe next season given the impressive way they finished the last campaign.

"If you look at the league, the top three have gone well ahead now. You might get the odd one who might creep into it, but the way those three are I doubt it," said Bellamy.

"After that, you've then got the fourth Champions League spot and if we start the season well and keep the momentum going then who knows?

"It's such an open league now that a lot of teams can go down, and a lot of teams can go for that Champions League spot and we're definitely in the middle of that.

"Who would have said Newcastle would have finished where they did last season? Or Everton? It's so open now."

Meanwhile, Bellamy refused to take a parting shot at Graeme Souness after finally ending his Newcastle nightmare, but he did admit he was sad to leave the United fans as they had given him amazing backing.

"I'm not getting into any slanging matches," he added.

"I do still have really good feelings for the club. I had some great moments, especially in Europe. Some of the nights were incredible.

"To play for those fans was the be all and end all for me because they gave you such great support.

"But it started to sink in that I wasn't going to represent them again so I obviously had to make a decision that was going to be best for me in terms of helping me to improve as a player."