BOSS Mark Hughes is running out of superlatives to describe star striker Roque Santa Cruz.

The former Bayern Munich took his goal tally for the season to 23 with a brace against Derby County on Saturday, with the Rovers manager hailing him as one of the best in the business.

"Roque is one of the best players I've seen at anticipating things falling in the box and the things spilling from 'keepers," said Hughes.

"He's always on the front foot and invariably the first one to arrive to knock those balls in, and because he works on it on a daily basis that is why he is able to get the rewards at the weekend.

"It is a trait of a natural goalscorer and that is what Roque is."