Rovers hope new boy will put them on Cruz control

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Hughes had double reason to celebrate as Rovers cruised into the UEFA Cup shortly after landing the highly rated Paraguay star.

Scroll down to read more:

His arrival means Rovers have six forwards, and Jason Roberts and Benni McCarthy responded to the challenge with goals to sweep aside their Lithuanian opponents in this InterToto tie and claim a place in Friday's draw for the UEFA Cup second qualifying round.

Santa Cruz signed a four-year deal worth £25,000 a week to move from Bayern Munich. The 25-year-old, who has been dogged by injury in the past few seasons, should make his debut in Wednesday's friendly at Huddersfield.

Hughes said: "We're delighted to get him, he could be a really big hit here. People might question his record but he's a goalscorer."

In his eight years with Bayern, Santa Cruz scored 31 goals in 155 games.He won the Champions League and five Bundesliga titles, as well as four German Cup triumphs and a World Club Cup winner's medal.

Rovers fought off interest from Champions League clubs to land Santa Cruz and Hughes added: "Word gets round on the football grapevine about what we're doing here. We're a top 10 Premiership side and that's a great attraction."

Morten Gamst Pedersen headed the hosts ahead after 26 minutes, evading two markers to meet David Bentley's inviting centre from the right.Vetra's hopes of overturning a two-goal first-leg deficit evaporated five minutes before the interval when forward Dejan Miloseski earned a second yellow card for an elbow on Steven Warnock.

Rovers made their numerical advantage pay with three goals in seven minutes shortly after the restart.Gamst Pedersen turned provider three minutes into the second half, bursting down the left to leave Roberts with a simple tap-in to double the advantage.

McCarthy struck a spectacular third five minutes later, meeting Bentley's deep cross with an acrobatic volley into the bottom corner. Christopher Samba helped himself to the fourth after 55 minutes with a deft header from Gamst Pedersen's inswinging free-kick.