Leon Best believes Blackburn can follow the example of Newcastle and bounce back stronger from relegation.

Ex-Saints striker Best swapped the prospect of Europa League football with Alan Pardew's rejuvenated Magpies for life in the npower Championship at Rovers in a £3million deal earlier this week.

The Ewood Park outfit ended an 11-season stay in the top flight amid turmoil on and off the pitch last time around, but Best points to the shinning example displayed on Tyneside after Newcastle finished fifth in the Barclays Premier League only two years on from their own brief sojourn in the second tier.

"With Newcastle, I think the season we had in the Championship built us and made us better in the Premier League," said the 25-year-old Republic of Ireland forward.

"Now I want to do the same thing here. Sometimes you need that wake-up call to go down and build a good squad, go back up and work together."

Best followed former England midfielder Danny Murphy through the doors at Rovers and a productive close season continued this week with the additions of ex-Portugal striker Nuno Gomes and his 19-year-old countryman Fabio Nunes.

"They're unbelievable signings," said Best. "I used to watch Nuno Gomes in the Euros and the World Cup for Portugal and to be playing with him now is unbelievable.

"Obviously Danny Murphy, with the clubs that he's played for - and as I know myself from playing against him last season - is a fantastic player."

That Steve Kean is in place to oversee the recruitment drive has raised eyebrows in some quarters, as his position seemed close to untenable at times last season in the face of supporter fury.

But echoing Murphy's sentiments at his media presentation last week, Best cited Kean - who coached him during their time together at Coventry - as a key factor in his decision to drop down a level.

"He worked a lot with me at Coventry," he added. "He did extra bits with me that he didn't need to, any time I wanted to do shooting.

"His training gets the players going. You want to be part of it and that's a massive thing.

"I love getting up in the morning and looking forward to training and with Steve I'll definitely be doing that."