MARK Hughes is fast becoming the man with the Midas touch as Blackburn Rovers continue to march from strength to strength under the Welshman's shrewd leadership.

This routine victory over a dishevelled Queen's Park Rangers side was Rovers' fifth on the bounce in all competitions - their best winning sequence since 1995, when a certain Kenny Dalglish led the club to the Premier League title.

But, although Craig Bellamy will rightly hog the headlines for two more exquisitely taken goals, it was the debut of promising German teenager Sergio Peter that ultimately gave Hughes most cause for satisfaction.

At the moment, everything Hughes touches appears to be turning into gold, so it was no surprise to see Peter sparkle on his first senior run-out, the 19-year-old conjuring up three assists to put the gloss on what was another polished Rovers performance.

Spotted in Germany as a schoolboy, Peter has been on Blackburn's books for the last four seasons, slowly forging a reputation for himself in the youth and reserve teams, where he has turned in a number of promising performances on the left hand side of midfield.

That prompted Hughes, the master alchemist, to put him on the bench for Rovers' recent Premiership visit to Middlesbrough, and the Blackburn boss then went a step further here, handing Peter his first senior start in what was a potentially tricky tie against Championship opponents eager to pull off a giantkilling.

However, any thoughts of the German being overawed by the occasion were soon dispelled in the 17th minute when he whipped over the corner that led to a rare goal for Andy Todd.

From then on, Peter visibly grew in stature and he set-up two further goals for the irresistible Bellamy as Rovers sharpened their aim ahead of Manchester United's eagerly anticipated visit in the Carling Cup on Wednesday night.

In all likelihood, Peter will step back into the shadows again for that assignment against the Reds, Hughes preferring to place his trust in proven Premiership performers rather than youthful exuberance.

But his emergence onto the first team scene is an added bonus for the Rovers boss at a time when the rose on the club's crest is in full bloom.

If Rovers are to build on the excellent work Hughes has done in his 15 months in the hot-seat then it's absolutely imperative they keep producing home-grown talent in Peter's mould.

Bobby Downes and his coaching staff have worked wonders in establishing Rovers' Academy as one of the finest in the country, particularly when you consider they are operating in a catchment area that is dominated by the big city clubs of Manchester and Liverpool.

But they are under incessant pressure to produce players for the first team and Peter is, arguably, the most exciting prospect to roll off the production line since Paul Gallagher made the breakthrough three seasons ago.

In an age when it costs more than £2 million to keep the doors of the Academy open every year, the demands on Downes and his staff to find the 'next big thing' have never been greater.

But in Hughes, the club appears to have a manager who is willing to invest in youth, and Peter's emergence will only act as a source of inspiration for the likes of Keith Treacy and Eddie Nolan, two other blossoming talents in the Academy who are being tipped to follow in the German's footsteps.

For now, though, Peter should enjoy his spell in the limelight and take heed of everything Hughes is telling him.

He has the basic tools to force his way into the first team squad - namely speed, skill and vision - and the fact he plays on the left is an added advantage.

But if he's to fulfil his obvious potential then he must strike the right balance between confidence and arrogance.

"Sergio played very well. He has been involved with the squad for a number of weeks," said Hughes.

"I just felt this game was the right opportunity for him and he looked as though he enjoyed himself.

"It is still early in his career but we have high hopes for him. He is a confident young man and if he can keep his feet on the ground he has a good future."

Like Peter, there's an almost German efficiency about the way Rovers are gaining results at present.

Hughes' side have won five on the bounce since they lost to Fulham on December 17, scoring 11 and conceding just one in the process.

They are riding roughshod over opponents like a giant juggernaut, which is why Sir Alex Ferguson won't be looking forward to his visit to Ewood on Wednesday night with much relish.

Hughes could even afford to rest a number of key players here and it made little difference to the outcome as Rovers proved too strong for a plucky - if limited - Rangers outfit.

>From the moment Todd opened the scoring inside the opening 20 minutes, Rovers' passage through to round four was never in any doubt.

The visitors simply had no answer for the marauding Bellamy, who seems to get better and better every time he pulls on a Blackburn shirt.

Quite how Newcastle manager Graeme Souness felt he could let him go remains a mystery.

The Welshman repeatedly cut QPR's flimsy defence to shreds with a deadly combination of blistering pace and clever movement and the way he took his two goals was positively sublime.

When you've got someone like that causing havoc up front, it gives everyone in the team a massive lift, which is why Rovers are playing with so much freedom and confidence.

Things might have been different had Rangers striker Shabazz Baidoo not squandered two great chances to give his side the lead before Rovers struck in the 17th minute, skipper Todd powering home a far post header from Peter's corner.

It was always going to be an uphill struggle for Rangers after that and so it proved as they fell further behind in the 37th minute, Peter crossing again for Bellamy to score with a brilliant left-foot volley, which he caressed into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Rangers only livened up when Ian Holloway summoned former Blackburn midfielder Gareth Ainsworth from the bench in the 55th minute, the 32-year-old supplying a stream of dangerous crosses from the right.

Ainsworth then had a volley brilliantly saved by Brad Friedel and Baidoo missed another golden chance when left one-on-one to sum up QPR's day.

But Rovers always gave the impression they had something extra in their locker if needed and, after Robbie Savage missed a sitter, it was left to Bellamy to seal the victory, the Welshman sweeping the ball emphatically past Simon Royce in the 86th minute after he had raced onto Peter's incisive through ball.