BLACKBURN Rovers fans got a taste of things to come as new signings Craig Bellamy and Shefki Kuqi both sparkled on their debuts at a sun-drenched Christie Park.

Bellamy's blistering pace and Kuqi's raw power scared the living daylights out of the Morecambe defence to underline just why Rovers boss Mark Hughes is so excited about the season ahead.

A typically darting run from Bellamy led to Morecambe keeper Ryan Robinson conceding a first half penalty that was gleefully converted by Paul Dickov.

But Kuqi wasn't about to be overshadowed and he scored a brilliant second, barging his way past three defenders before belting an unstoppable shot beyond Robinson from the edge of the box.

It was stirring stuff from the two new arrivals, who showed enough in their 45 minute cameo appearances to suggest Rovers will carry a far greater attacking threat over the next 10 months.

Hughes purred: "I think Craig showed what he's all about and there's a lot more to come from him because it's only early in our preparations.

"But he showed glimpses of what he's all about and the crowd were very excited by what they saw.

"I was also pleased with Shefki, too.

He's a big, powerful boy and people don't like to get in the way of him when he's in full stride."

Hughes wanted to give everyone in his 22-man squad a 45 minute run-out so he fielded two completely different sides - one in each half.

Bellamy started the game up front with Dickov and his lightning pace and invention gave Rovers a whole new dimension in the final third.

The former Newcastle forward, who joined Rovers a fortnight ago in a £4 million deal, has the speed to make a bad ball look a good one, and his probing runs into the channels gave the Morecambe defence plenty to ponder in an action-packed first half.

There was no let up for the home defence after the break, either, as Kuqi and Matt Jansen - back in the fold again after a four month absence - posed a different threat.

Kuqi's power and sheer physical strength makes him a handful for defenders, and when he's on the move, he takes some stopping, as the Shrimps found to their cost.

The one disappointment for Hughes was the way Rovers shipped two soft goals in the second half once first choice centre-half pairing Ryan Nelsen and Andy Todd had departed the scene.

That enabled Morecambe to grab the draw their gutsy performance deserved, but Hughes won't be too concerned at this early stage, particularly as he's still got the likes of Robbie Savage, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Lucas Neill and Brett Emerton to come back.

Bellamy was in the thick of the action from the start and Dickov went close with a shot on the turn before Rovers made the breakthrough in the 24th minute.

Dickov's clever through-ball sent Bellamy scampering clear, but as he raced into the box, Robinson came out and nearly took his head off with a mistimed challenge.

After consulting with his assistant, the referee awarded a penalty that Dickov converted.

Hughes sent a completely different team out for the second half and within 10 minutes Morecambe were level courtesy of former Manchester United player Michael Twiss.

Kuqi then fired over, Matt Derbyshire struck the bar with a header, and Robinson comfortably saved Jansen's overhead kick.

There was little the Morecambe keeper could do in the 72nd minute, however, when Kuqi picked up the ball 40 yards out and bulldozed his way through three challenges before belting an unstoppable shot high into the roof of the net from the edge of the area.

That should have secured the victory but another defensive lapse allowed Jimmy Kelly to grab a late equaliser for the Shrimps.

First half team: Brad Friedel, Andy Taylor, Dominic Matteo, Andy Todd, Ryan Nelsen, Tugay, Jemal Johnson, Garry Flitcroft, Paul Dickov, Paul Gallagher, Craig Bellamy.

Second half team: Peter Enckelman, Gary Harkins, Michael Gray, Aaron Mokoena, Jay McEveley, Steven Reid, Jonathon Douglas, Sergio Peter, Matt Derbyshire, Matt Jansen, Shefki Kuqi.

Attendance: 2,765