MARK Hughes believes strike duo Benni McCarthy and Roque Santa Cruz are a partnership made in heaven.

The Rovers boss was fulsome in praise for his frontmen after they both hit the scoresheet in Saturday's comprehensive 4-2 Premier League victory over Reading.

McCarthy grabbed a brace at Ewood Park, the latter coming from the penalty spot, while Santa Cruz scored his side's second of the afternoon, to put them both on six goals apiece in all competitions this season.

But while Santa Cruz and McCarthy are racking up the goals, Hughes is delighted to see their partnership blossom as a whole.

"They looked very good today, their movement and the way they linked with each other," said the Rovers manager.

"They've got great European experience as well and the way we play, we try to get the ball down and play with it.

"They understand the positions they need to take up and the little pockets of space that are available on the field, and they seem to get in those positions and create things.

"We're very lucky, they are two good guys and nice fellas.

Hughes added: "We've got a great work ethic at the club and they've bought into it.

"You can work at a partnership and if you put in the hours on the training field eventually it will improve, but ideally you want it to click as soon as possible and then qualities they have lend themselves to them playing well together.

"You've got the height and the work ethic of Roque and he has pace as well, and Benni's got craft and guile and he's a natural goalscorer. The qualities they have blend together."

When Rovers signed Santa Cruz from Bayern Munich in a £3.5million move this summer, many doubted whether the Paraguay international was prolific enough and concerns were raised over his injury problems during his time in Germany.

But Hughes insists the 26-year-old has already done enough to silence those critics.

He said: "There were a number of clubs interested in Roque, but a lot of people ended up looking at all the negatives which was his goal record and the injuries.

"But you have to say both were linked. He missed games and never got a real run in the team so that affected him.

"But he's really enjoying it here and he has scored goals from the first moment he came here. That's not an issue for him anymore."