Has Mark Hughes bought the bargain of the season? I think so! A £3.8m buy from Bayern Munich in the summer, Roque Santa Cruz set the Premier League alight in his first few games for Rovers and has continued his scoring form with an astonishing seven goals in his last four games.

The Paraguayan hitman had limited chances while playing for the German giants but the move to Ewood Park has allowed the striker to show just what he can do if he gets a regular starting place. He's still only 26 but seems to have been around the footballing circuit for ages. He played his first international game for Paraguay at the age of only 17 and was signed by Bayern shortly afterwards as his speed and quick thinking attracted the Bundersliga's most successful club.

Santa Cruz won five German league titles, four League Cups and scored 38 times in 143 matches for Bayern. However, in the eight years he spent in Germany, he failed to hold a regular place in the starting line-up and often found himself on the bench in what was, and always will be, a highly competitive squad of players.

'In the eight years he spent in Germany, he often found himself on the bench'

His decision to leave Bayern was surely due to new arrivals Franck Ribery from Marseille, Luca Toni from Italian side Fiorentina and Miroslav Klose from bitter German rivals Werder Bremen. These transfers meant that Santa Cruz would again be knocked down the pecking order and he felt he had more to offer. A move to England looked a great opportunity.

Hughes is regarded as one of the best and shrewdest managers in the Premier League. He has used hard physical tactics to build Blackburn into a force to be reckoned with again. His eye for a bargain buy was seen last year when he landed Benni McCarthy from Porto and saw the striker score 24 goals in his first season.

Santa Cruz looks a similar buy, and his strong presence up front and powerful heading skills look set to reward Hughes and Blackburn. His recent spate of scoring has included goals against Chelsea and Arsenal and has overtaken Benni McCarthy as Blackburn's leading striker. While his South African teammate struggles for goals, Santa Cruz can do no wrong.