BLACKBURN midfielder Robbie Savage is backing Mark Hughes to find a solution to his striking problems following the shock departure of Craig Bellamy.

Savage admits he was gutted' to see Bellamy, his close friend and former Wales team-mate, quit Rovers for Liverpool in a £6.5 million deal earlier this week.

After watching the 26-year-old fire Rovers into Europe last season, Savage was looking forward to seeing Bellamy spearhead the club's charge in the UEFA Cup next term.

However, once the former Newcastle striker learned that Liverpool were interested in signing him, he quickly set his heart on a move to Anfield, where he will now get the opportunity to play for the team he has supported since childhood.

Bellamy's sudden departure is a shattering blow for Hughes, particularly as the Rovers boss had invested so much time and effort in helping to resurrect the striker's career over the last 12 months.

But while Savage admits Bellamy is almost irreplaceable', he believes Hughes can find a solution to fill the void.

"Losing Craig is a massive blow and I'm gutted to see him go because he's a great player and a close friend," said Savage.

"The bottom line is you can't really replace a player like Craig Bellamy, even for £6.5 million.

"We need to try and find someone with similar pace but that's going to be difficult because there aren't many players like Craig out there.

"The good thing is the manager has done brilliantly in the transfer market in the past and I'm sure he will do the same again.

"I know Craig did well for us last season, but we weren't just a one man team; everyone played their part to get the club into Europe.

"I think we now need to bring in three new strikers as soon as possible, and the manager will be working as hard as he can to make that happen."

Bellamy's decision to leave for Liverpool has thrown Hughes' plans into turmoil at a time when he was looking to strengthen his squad in preparation for a European campaign.

But having spoken at length to Bellamy, Savage says he understands the reasons behind the quicksilver forward's move to Anfield.

"I don't think Craig would have left Blackburn for any club other than Liverpool," said Savage.

"I've had several conversations with him and I know he really liked it here, but in the end he couldn't turn down the chance to join the club he has supported all his life.

"I think Mark Hughes deserves great credit for getting him here in the first place.

"He's probably the best player to have played for Blackburn since Alan Shearer and if Mark can attract a player like that to come here once, then he can do it again."