Roque Santa Cruz marked his Premier League debut on Saturday with a goal in Blackburn's 2-1 win over Middlesbrough and he insists he is indebted to Owen Hargreaves at Manchester United.

Santa Cruz has revealed when he first joined Bayern Munich in 1999 he immediately struck up a friendship with Hargreaves, who was already at the club.

The pair went their separate ways this summer, but the Paraguayan forward has admitted his gratitude to Hargreaves for helping him to settle.

"When I arrived in Germany I started speaking with Owen and English was the first language I learned," Santa Cruz told The Sun. "For six months I only spoke English and then the boss stepped in and told me to speak German.

"Speaking English has really helped me settle here. Owen has made it much, much easier for me.

"It has helped me get closer to the players. You can understand jokes and feel part of things.

"Myself and Owen are great friends. Owen recommended Blackburn and told me I'd be happy here."