Santa Cruz shines for Hughes

Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes has admitted to being surprised by the impact striker Roque Santa Cruz has made during his first season in England.

The 26-year-old Paraguay international has scored 23 goals in 42 appearances for Rovers this term, having impressed ever since making a £3.6million move from Bayern Munich last summer.

Hughes told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph: "I would be lying if I said he hadn't surprised me.

"I knew I was getting a technically gifted player, but if I'm honest, I didn't realise what a good player he is. He's impressed me from the first training session.

"I have to try and make sure that the signings I make have an impact and they're a success.

"It's always a risk when you bring new players into the club, it doesn't matter if they come from foreign fields or up the road.

"It's a case of making sure that when they do come here, they work hard and they integrate as quickly as possible and I think that's what's happened with Roque.

"He hit the ground running. I think he started on the bench in the first game of the season, but came on and scored almost immediately.

"I think that settled him right down and, from that point onwards, he hasn't stopped scoring."