The England Under-19 striker hauled City back into the game at Ewood Park with a well-taken effort three minutes from time before setting up record signing Robinho for an equaliser with virtually the last kick.

After attracting the interest of Chelsea last summer, Hughes is now trying to persuade Sturridge to commit his long-term future to the Eastlands outfit.

And, if today's contribution is any guide, Sturridge could be as big as anyone Hughes' brings in at vast expense next month.

"I want to keep Daniel at the club because this is the best place for him to learn," said Hughes.

"We want to bring some good players here and that will create the right type of environment that is conducive to good football.

"I think negotiations are quite close now.

"For some reason Daniel has been allowed to get in the last year of his contract, which swings the situation back towards the player.

"If I had been here then, I would not have allowed it to happen."

Sturridge's late heroics came at the end of a game Rovers seemed to have sewn up.

Although the Brazilian should have scored with an early header and Shaun Wright-Phillips hit a post in the second half, City were struggling to find a leveller to Benni McCarthy's first-half effort even before Jason Roberts added a second seven minutes from time.

However, Sturridge was not ready to accept defeat.

"In a way that result is as good as the one against Hull on Boxing Day," said Hughes.

"It took courage and character which maybe some people did not think we had."

Blackburn boss Sam Allarydce admitted the last late twist was a dagger to the heart.

After Roberts' late miss at Sunderland on Boxing Day, the Rovers chief felt his side should have collected maximum points over the Christmas period, not just the two they ended up with.

"It feels like a defeat," he admitted.

"I didn't expect that. I expected us to withstand the pressure because we had defended so well before then.

"We should have seen the game out but there was a bit of naivety towards the end when City threw six players up in desperation at the end."

Ryan Nelsen picked up his fifth booking of the season that will rule him out of next Monday's FA Cup tie at non-league Blyth.

Before then, City might have made their move for Santa Cruz, although Allardyce has vowed to keep them, or anyone else, at bay, for as long as he can even thought it might impact on his own ability to strengthen Rovers' squad.

"For all managers, the January window is a nightmare," he said.

"We will try to add to the squad. The problem is we need to find someone who can have an almost immediate impact.

"There is a huge amount of expectation around most clubs at this time with rumours of this player coming or that one going. Once the speculation has gone from one player, it just moves on to someone else.

"If someone comes in for one of our players we will try to resist them for as long as we possibly can."