Blackburn boss Paul Ince is relishing the prospect of having Roque Santa Cruz back in full flow after the striker fired his side into the Carling Cup quarter-finals.

Cruz needed only two minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute to head Blackburn in front at Sunderland and pave the way for a 2-1 fourth-round victory.

Ince, who had to hold the frontman back on his return from a hamstring injury, said: "Roque wanted to start but I don't think he is quite there yet.

"It's important to get him on because we have been playing well this season, our build-up play has been excellent, but we have lacked that clinical touch. He gives us that. If he plays games, he will score goals, as he did last year."

Phil Bardsley's own goal made it 20 but the hosts pulled one back through Kenwyne Jones.