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Roque has key role, says boss
Manchester City, 09:25, October 29, 2009 ,
Mark Hughes has tipped Roque Santa Cruz to become a key part of his first-team plans after the striker scored his first City goal.
Santa Cruz has been restricted to a bit-part role at Eastlands since his £17.5 million summer move from Blackburn after being hampered by injury.
But the Paraguay international marked his first start for Hughes' side with a goal - his first since February - in City's 5-1 Carling win over Scunthorpe on Wednesday night and the manager has backed him to become a regular in his starting line-up as the season progresses.
Hughes told Sky Sports: ""He was really ill over the weekend and we had been looking to get him involved at the weekend on the bench, but he just couldn't make it.
"I was really pleased for him. It's important whenever a striker comes to a club that he gets off the mark and I thought his all-round game was excellent.
"I know the quality he has and I was pleased today that he has been able to demonstrate that to everyone in the stadium, and he's going to be a really important player for us as the season progresses."