Ince delighted to finally ‘put Santa Cruz rubbish’ to bed

BLACKBURN boss Paul Ince was delighted to “put to bed” all the “rubbish” concerning Roque Santa Cruz after the striker signed a new four-year contract at Ewood Park.

Santa Cruz, 27, ended weeks of speculation over his future by putting pen to paper on a new deal, ending interest from the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City, who had a reported £12million bid rejected earlier in the week.

Rovers only signed the injury-plagued Paraguay international from Bayern Munich last summer for around £3.5m despite a history of serious knee problems, but the gamble paid off as Santa Cruz played 36 of 38 Premier League games and scored 23 goals in all competitions.

Santa Cruz was unable to build on his opening-day goal at Everton in the frustrating 1-1 draw with Hull on Saturday, but his manager was keen to look at the bigger picture.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” Ince revealed. “You guys have all seen the rubbish that’s been written in the papers in the last couple of weeks, and it’s nice to just put it to bed now.

“It’s been unsettling for everyone, including Roque himself, and we’re absolutely delighted at the club. And the players are as well because he is a talisman for us.

“I think we’ve spent the last two weeks worrying if he was going to go, or if he was going to stay, and now we can put it to bed and concentrate on the Premier League.”

Santa Cruz endured a largely frustrating afternoon, firing just over the crossbar, seeing another shot blocked and heading narrowly wide of the post in the second half as the home side pushed for a winning goal.

It was Santa Cruz’s strike partner Jason Roberts who was the major threat for the visitors, scoring Blackburn’s goal and being a constant danger.

“I’m delighted for him,” Ince admitted. “He deserved a goal last week against Everton and he got his just rewards today. He could probably have got two or three to be fair.

“I just thought it wasn’t going to happen, and it got to the 75th minute and I thought maybe he’d had his time and it was time to throw on someone like Benni (McCarthy).

“But he was awesome, and the work he does in holding the ball up causes so much problems. I was pleased with his performance. For the last two or three weeks he has been different class.”

Hull’s point, which they thoroughly merited for their workmanlike show, was secured by a looping header from Richard Garcia.

BLACKBURN: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Reid, Mokoena (Kerimoglu 67), Dunn (Emerton 46), Pedersen, Roque Santa Cruz, Roberts (McCarthy 81).

HULL: Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Anthony Gardner, Dawson (Mendy 58), Garcia (Barmby 78), Ashbee, Marney, Fagan, Geovanni (Folan 65), King.

Referee: Stuart Attwell.