MARK Hughes reckons two of his biggest signings are finally starting to hit their best form.

Robbie Savage and Shefki Kuqi have come in for special praise from the Blackburn boss as he prepares his side for a second meeting with Middlesbrough in the space of five days.

The first one, Wednesday's Carling Cup quarter-final victory, was inspired largely by the barnstorming performance of Kuqi, who proved too awkward for Boro to handle and laid on the last minute winner for Paul Dickov.

And Hughes has emphasised how much the qualities of the Finn, who arrived from Ipswich Town in the summer, have improved Rovers as an attacking force.

"He gives us that physical presence that we didn't have last year," the manager said.

"That was the reason he was brought to the club and we are delighted for him.

"He has a real desire to succeed and his work ethic is fantastic."

The way Kuqi performed will have Hughes licking his lips at the prospect of inflicting more misery on Middlesbrough on Boxing Day.

The sides meet in the Premiership with Boro looking for a vast improvement on the cup tie, when they were second best to Rovers in all departments

Hughes added: "Shefki and Paul Dickov really worked their socks off and they were given great support from the rest of the team.

"But on occasions I thought Middlesborough found it very difficult to handle the pair of them."

Paul Dickov is suspended but Craig Bellamy is on stand-by.

Meanwhile, Savage struggled to get his game together in a Rover shirt when he first joined in January and had a miserable second half of last season.

But with a campaign so far uninterrupted by injuries, Hughes thinks the Welshman is now ready to revel in his role as the midfield general.

And this was evident at the Riverside, as Savage's never-say-die attitude epitomised the way Blackburn stuck to their task to secure a semi-final spot.

Hughes said: "Robbie was excellent. It was arguably one of his best games since he came to the club because of his energy and his willingness to get the job done, and the impact that he had on the game.

"Since he's been here he hasn't had as much impact as he has in previous games in his career but that shows the level he needs to be at and hopefully he will continue in that vein."