Pedersen is one of the stand-out players of season 2005/2006

Blackburn Rovers left-winger, Morten Gamst Pedersen, is the answer to any Newcastle supporter who doubts Graeme Souness's ability to make a good value acquisition. The £1.5m buy from Tromso in Norway is turning out to be one of the best players of the 2005/2006 season.

Last night Pedersen scored his seventh goal of the season for Blackburn to level the first leg League Cup semi-final against Man Utd at 1-1. It was the left winger's third goal in two games against Man Utd this season. And more than that, it was another goal of stunning technique that saw the ball soar of his right boot into the top right hand corner of the net.

Pedersen is creating his own personal goal of the season competition. A left-foot volley on the run from an extreme angle that rocketed into the roof of the net against Fulham caught everyone's attention about the awesome technique of Pedersen.

Then on New Years Day he demonstrated his technique is so excellent that he can repeat stunning goals: this time blasting another left foot volley from an even more acute angle into the roof of the net at Wigan. A game letter he curled a delicate left-footed free-kick against Portsmouth to start a come-from-behind victory.

I'm sure I heard a commentator say that until the age of thirteen he was solely right-footed and then made a deliberate decision to become left-footed. The perfect technique of his right-footed goal last night is evidence that he indeed is fully two-footed. Aside from this relatively rare attribute, he has an excellent shooting technique that repeats, a good work rate, and is an accurate crosser of the ball from the left wing. Overall, he is a pure footballer that brings a lot of class and quality to Mark Hughes well-coached Blackburn side.

At only 24 years old, Pedersen will surely become a transfer target of the elite clubs in Europe if he continues his rapid progression in the Blackburn shirt.

When Souness bought the player in August 2004, he said:

'Morten is a working left-sided player who chips in with goals. I would say he is a very good all-rounder at this time. He is a young man who is athletic, not short of technique and who has a great future in our football. We think we've signed a very good player.'

Sixteen months on, and it certainly looks like Souness was spot-on with his judgement on Morten Gamst Pedersen.