BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes believes Johann Vogel is starting to show the kind of form that will see him become a key figure in the team next season.

The Swiss international midfielder, who signed for Rovers on a free transfer recently after his contract was cancelled by Real Betis, has taken time to get used to the hectic pace of the Premier League.

However, the former AC Milan ace is beginning to show clear signs that he will be a major influence in Rovers' engine room, once he becomes fully acclimatised to the English game.

Praising his performance against Portsmouth yesterday, where he was deployed in a holding role in front of the back four, Hughes said of the 31-year-old: "He understands the game.

"He's got good football intelligence; he knows what teams are trying to do when they are in possession; he blocks holes; he gets a foot in and breaks things up for us; and he's got great vision and angles to his passing as well, which we saw on many occasions.

"So it was a good performance by him, and by a number of our other players, during the second half."

Needing to win to keep their hopes of Europe alive, Rovers secured a vital three points at Fratton Park, courtesy of a clinical second-half strike from Roque Santa Cruz.

The Paraguayan now has 21 goals in all competitions this season, and Hughes is delighted by his leading scorer's all-round contribution.

"He's an exceptional player with good talent and if we talk about his personality as well he's great to have around the place, so I'm pleased for him," said the Rovers manager.

"It was really important that we got those three points today, and Roque was a big part of that."