Aldridge said: "The art of goalscoring can sometimes be undervalued when there is a great deal of stock placed on athleticism and speed. But if I had a choice between a player with a natural instinct for scoring or a player with a terrible scoring record but fast feet I know which one I would go for.
"Ian Rush told me a few years ago that of all the players he was working with at Liverpool that Neil Mellor was the most gifted natural scorer. That was also at a time when a certain Michael Owen was in the squad.
"Mellor does need to work on his all-round game but he showed against Middlesbrough what a great eye for goal he has, and that is as rare a quality now as it has ever been.
"It is clear that like Igor Biscan Mellor suffered a dramatic loss of confidence in recent years when despite scoring for fun in the reserves for whatever reason didn't get a chance.
"Rafael Benitez has done a great job of lifting the lad and while he may be no Thierry Henry, his eye for goal means he is one to watch.
"Against Middlesbrough he had just three chances and scored twice. With hard work on the training ground Benitez could find he has a very useful asset in Mellor."