The Paraguayan star has hit two goals in his first three games for Rovers since his £3.8million move from Bayern Munich, and he credits McCarthy with a big role in his success.

Santa Cruz said: "Benni is a great player and it did not take me long to understand the way he plays. You look at the attitude he has and he makes it so easy.

"It was a case of coming in and getting used to the crowds and everything else as soon as possible.

"But there are no mysteries about the Premier League any more. I am enjoying playing with Benni very much."

Santa Cruz and McCarthy are set to return to the Rovers side for Sunday's Ewood Park clash with Manchester City after being rested for the midweek UEFA Cup win over My-Pa.

Santa Cruz added: "Three games does not tell you a lot about how the rest of the season is going to go but it is clear everything is going well for us at the moment.

"I don't think we are able to say we have made a good start until after the game with City.

"If we get three points against City, then we can certainly say we have made a good start."

Meanwhile, Rovers boss Mark Hughes has expressed his delight at David Bentley's recall to the England squad for the upcoming Euro 2008 qualifying double-header against Russia and Israel.

There were fears Bentley could be frozen out after he controversially elected to withdraw from the summer squad for the European under-21 Championships because he said he was too tired.

But Hughes insisted: "We have drawn a line under it and there is no real issue between me and Steve [McClaren]. I was delighted when he rang me this morning to tell me David was in the squad.

"He scored a brilliant goal for us on Thursday night but I would suggest it is his form over a sustained period of time which has probably swayed it. This is David's reward for a lot of hard work."