BLACKBURN striker Jason Roberts is desperate to face Wigan Athletic tomorrow - even though he admits it would feel strange to line-up against his old club.

Roberts, who is fighting to be fit after recovering from a groin injury, enjoyed two golden years at the JJB, where he played a huge part in the club's meteoric rise under manager Paul Jewell.

In his first full season with the Latics, Roberts and his strike-partner Nathan Ellington fired the goals that took the once unfashionable club to the promised land of the Premiership.

Then, once in the top flight, Roberts came up with the goods again, his 14 goals last term helping Wigan to a top 10 Premiership finish and a place in the Carling Cup final.

But that fairytale came to an abrupt end in the summer when a contract row with Wigan owner Dave Whelan led to Roberts quitting the Latics for Blackburn.

Tomorrow, Roberts could face his former club for the first time since that acrimonious departure, and if he gets the nod from his new boss, Mark Hughes, then he would have no qualms about gunning down his old team-mates.

He said: "It's going to be strange, but it's part of football that players move on.

"I still know quite a lot of the players there so it's going to feel a little bit strange, but, at the same time, I play for Blackburn now and there's no problem where that's concerned in terms of playing against Wigan."

Despite the manner of his summer departure, Roberts is not bitter about his time at the JJB.

"I prefer to concentrate on the positives," he said. "When I went to Wigan, we both achieved what we wanted to achieve.

"From Wigan's point of view, they got into the Premiership, stayed up and had a fantastic season.

"From my point of view, I wanted the opportunity to play Premiership football and they gave me that, and I'm sure I wouldn't be where I am now without Wigan, and vice versa.

"So it was mutually beneficial and I had a great time at the club."

Having achieved what he wanted to with Wigan, Roberts felt the time was right to move on in the summer, particularly once the club started stalling over the offer of a new contract.

"We both wanted to go in different directions. The club had their ideas and I had mine," said Roberts.

"But, from my point of view, I'm very happy with the way things worked out and the fact I'm now at a club like Blackburn."

Roberts scored 43 goals in his 103 appearances for the Latics, and he admits he has great memories of Wigan's meteoric rise.

"To be part of that was great," he said. "It was the most successful part of my career so far.

"I made a lot of good friends there, and had a fantastic time.

"I had the honour of wearing the captain's armband on several occasions, and scoring goals for the club in the Premiership was probably the proudest thing I've achieved in my career to date.

"It's going to be difficult for them to build on that and a lot of players who were a big part of that success aren't there anymore.

"They've gone in a different direction, and they have the right to do that.

"I bear no grudges where Wigan are concerned because, like I've said, I wouldn't be where I am now without them, so I don't have a problem with them whatsoever.

"I wish them all the best and I hope they do really well. I just hope they don't finish above Blackburn."