MARK Hughes believes he has now got the strongest squad he has ever had at Blackburn Rovers - and he still plans to add a couple more new faces to the mix before the start of the season.

The Rovers boss has been busy in the transfer market over the summer, adding Jason Roberts, Jason Brown, Francis Jeffers and Benni McCarthy, whose move from Porto was due to be formally rubberstamped today, to a squad that finished sixth in the Premiership last term.

Those arrivals, and the fact that Morten Gamst Pedersen, Steven Reid, Tugay and Michael Gray have all signed new deals since the end of last term, have done much to lift the sense of gloom that was created by Craig Bellamy's shock departure to Liverpool, so much so that Hughes now feels his squad is arguably in better shape than it was at this point last year.

Speaking from Rovers' training base here in Rottach-Egern in Germany, a bullish Hughes said: "I'm pleased with the business we've done so far.

"Jay (Jason Roberts) is looking very sharp and very strong, Franny is getting better every day and technically he's always been a good player.

"Jason Brown is also acquitting himself very well, so all the new guys have integrated themselves into the squad very quickly and they seem to be enjoying it here.

"We still want to add some more players if we can but I'm happy with the way the squad is shaping up.

"I think there's a good balance to it now and we've got strength and power in vital areas so I'm looking forward to the season.

"At the end of the day, Craig has gone and we're not going to harp on about players that aren't here anymore.

"Instead, I'm focusing very much on the guys that are here and they have a job to do for us this year."

With four signings already in the bag, Hughes has still not ruled out the possibility of more new faces arriving before the transfer window shuts at the end of next month.

Former Celtic star Didier Agathe is still hoping to secure a move to Ewood after impressing during two friendly outings and there may be more to follow.

"We're hopeful," said Hughes, ahead of tonight's friendly with Olympiakos in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

"There is always deals to be done and we've just got to make sure we get the right quality in."