NEW goalscoring sensation Roque Santa Cruz claims he has 'unfinished business' in Europe as he prepares to start his first game for Blackburn Rovers today.

The Paraguayan international, who scored on his debut against Middlesbrough at the weekend, is desperate to fire Rovers to glory in the Uefa Cup after missing out on Bayern Munich's Champions League triumph over Valencia six years ago.

Although the 25-year-old did receive a winners' medal for being a part of the Bayern squad that lifted Europe's biggest prize at the San Siro in 2001, he was an unused substitute in the final itself, which is why he's so hungry to return to the big time with Rovers.

And, while the Uefa Cup may not be considered to be quite as prestigious as the Champions League, Santa Cruz insists going all the way to the final at the City of Manchester Stadium with Rovers next May would give him as much satisfaction as anything he achieved during his eight years with Bayern.

Speaking ahead of tonight's Uefa Cup second qualifying round tie with MyPa-47, Mark Hughes' latest signing said: "It is always nice to play in Europe. We will do our best and try to get a result in Finland so that we can go as far as possible this season.

"Conditions are different in the UEFA Cup from the Champions League, but every international game takes a lot of experience, so my experience in the Champions League will help me to perform well in these games, even when the fixture is not so attractive, like this one.

"I'm very ambitious and want to do my best for the team so that is why I am looking to do well against MyPa.

"When Bayern won the Champions League in 2001, I was on the bench in the final.

"I played in every game apart from the final, but we were drawing 1-1 so the trainer put on the experienced players who could take penalties.

"At the end, we were champions so it was hard to argue with his decision.

"I enjoyed being there and it was a really exciting year for us but having not played, it means I am still very excited about this game.

"Of course, it is still an ambition to play in a European final. It is the pinnacle of any player's career to play in and win a Champions League final, but the Uefa Cup is still a big thing.

"But that is a long way away and we will keep going step by step and concentrate fully on every game."

Santa Cruz still cherishes the Champions League medal he won with Bayern six years ago but, having not appeared in the final itself, he would love to earn another one outright by playing a leading role in Rovers' pursuit of European glory.

"I did get a medal at the time. Our squad was big so even to play at all was a big deal, and I felt part of the winning team.

"But the medal is back home in Paraguay. Perhaps I will sell it one day," he joked.

Hughes believes Santa Cruz's European pedigree will give Rovers an extra dimension in Europe as they look to improve on last season's run, which saw them reach the last 32, before crashing out to Bayer Leverkusen in the knockout phase.

"I'm sure Roque will play a big part for us. Absolutely," said the Rovers boss, who looks certain to hand Santa Cruz his full debut in the absence of top-scorer Benni McCarthy.

"He's been brought in for his European experience, and for his ability, and what he can bring to the party.

"And the glimpses of what he has shown up to this point have really excited everybody.

"When you're a striker moving to a new club, it's very important to get a goal early on. That's key to the initial period.

"It means you can get it settled in your own mind that the club you are at is the right one.

"The fans also want you to do well but maybe in the back of their minds, they're not quite sure what they are watching in the initial games.

"So for Roque to make the impression that he has in such a short period of time, obviously scoring (against Middlesbrough) and with his general play, it shows he is very much a part of what we are trying to do here."