Hughes thrilled by Santa’s presence

MARK HUGHES hailed Roque Santa Cruz as one of the best natural finishers he has ever seen after the Paraguay striker ensured Derby entered the record books as the worst team in Premier League history.

Santa Cruz took his tally for his first season in English football to 23 on Saturday by reacting brilliantly to Morten Gamst Pedersen’s deflected effort in first-half injury time, then nodding home a far-post header in the second period.

Hughes admitted his decision to snap up Santa Cruz in a £3.5m (€4.4m) deal from Bayern Munich had been a gamble with a series of injuries hindering the player during an unexceptional eight-year spell in Germany.