Roque Santa Cruz has reiterated his desire to stay at Blackburn Rovers after signing a new contract with the club.

Despite a new deal to keep the Paraguay striker at Ewood Park until 2012, he continues to be linked with a move away from the club.

"I am very happy because we got an agreement with the people from the club," Santa Cruz said. "I was also trying to push it so we could get the deal done because people were talking too much about situations which weren't really there.

"So I think that starting this week we can have an easy week now in training, and just concentrate on each game.

"I also think that the people at the club can now relax, they are making jokes already," he added. "It is going to be very positive to the mentality of the team and that is why it is important.

"I think it is great news for the fans, but also for the players, the gaffer and for me. It wasn't a good thing to get phone calls every day asking me what is happening.

"So for me it is very important that it is all done and now I can just focus now on Blackburn and football, I'm 100 per cent a Blackburn player and I will keep working hard.

"I'm very happy with the reaction from the fans, they keep pushing me to get better and better, beside the result against Hull it has been a wonderful week."

Paul Ince admitted the uncertainty over Santa Cruz's future had been having a negative effect on the club.

"It's been unsettling for everyone, including Roque himself, and we're absolutely delighted at the club. And the players are as well because he is a talisman for us," Ince said. "I think we've spent the last two weeks worrying if he was going to go or if he was going to stay, and now we can put it to bed."