IT may have been a long time coming, quite literally for Mame Biram Diouf, but Blackburn Rovers’ loanee striker showed signs of being well worth the wait.

Rovers supporters have been plagued by Sam Allardyce’s frustrating striker search all summer but, after finally landing one, the manager will be more than happy with his first impressions.

The Manchester United youngster was forced to ensure an agonising wait on Friday as Rovers tried to get his season-long loan deal registered and didn’t meet up with the squad in Scotland until 3am on Saturday.

But that didn’t stop the Senegalese international from scoring after just 15 minutes of his debut at Hearts just a few hours later, having arrived as a half time substitute, to boost Rovers’ previously looking frail striking options.

While the deal is yet to be 100 per cent finalised, Rovers can be confident the striker is now here for the long haul, as long as the final bits of paperwork get sorted next week.

His 45-minute cameo would not have told Rovers supporters too much but what it did immediately show was he has no problems knowing where the goal is.

The 22-year-old showed quick reactions to latch onto Morten Gamst Pedersen’s flick to drill the ball across Hearts goalkeeper Jamie Macdonald and into the net for a timely equaliser.

Saturday’s 1-1 draw would have told Sam Allardyce little else ahead of the Premier League opener and maybe he agreed as he ducked out 20 minutes early to carry out “some business”.

Rovers were stunned early doors as Suso Santana’s 25-yard shot flew into the top corner, via a deflection off Ryan Nelsen.

ROVERS: Mark Bunn (Jason Brown 61), Lars Jacobsen, Martin Olsson, Chris Samba (Gael Givet 65), Ryan Nelsen, Steven Nzonzi (Amine Linganzi 63), Junior Hoilett, Keith Andrews, Nick Blackman (Mame Biram Diouf 46), El-Hadji Diouf, Morten Gamst Pedersen (Josh Morris 68). Subs not used: Gavin Gunning, Alan Judge, Aaron Doran.

HEARTS: Janos Balogh (Jamie Macdonald 46), Jason Thomson, Lee Wallace, Darren Barr, Marius Zaliukas, Ruben Palazuelas, Suso Santana (Ryan Stevenson 80), Craig Thomson, Calum Elliot (Jonathan Toto 73), Ian Black (David Templeton 69), Arvydas Novikovas (Ryan McGowan 69). Subs not used: Eggert Jonsson, Ismael Bouzid, Adrian Mrowiec.