11:22am Tuesday 4th March 2008
By Andy Neild
BENNI McCarthy has indicated he is ready to spend the rest of his career at Blackburn Rovers.
The former Porto star, who is Rovers' second top scorer this season with 11 goals in all competitions, has hinted he is willing to sign a new contract with the club.
Several rounds of talks have already taken place between Rovers chairman John Williams and McCarthy's advisers, and, with the striker saying he can see himself playing under manager Mark Hughes for the rest of his career, there is a strong chance a deal could be thrashed out between the two parties in the next couple of weeks.
McCarthy, who was in Blackburn town centre yesterday to help launch the club's new season ticket promotion, said: "I can definitely see myself playing under Mark Hughes until I finish my career.
"I've been fortunate to play for two managers who are very similar in terms of being laid-back and easy going, and they are able to get the best out of you.
"One of those was Jose Mourinho, and Mark Hughes is very similar.
"He's young and full of energy, and he wants to achieve a lot of things.
"For a player like me, it's great to be playing for a manager who is so optimistic about wanting to achieve things, and wanting to win things.
"You just want to be part of all that, and I can see myself easily playing for a manager like that for the rest of my career."
McCarthy still has two years left to run on his existing deal after this season, but Hughes is eager to secure the South African's services beyond 2010, believing the 30-year-old still has plenty to offer.
The Rovers chief said: "I really feel he wants to stay here. "He's under contract but we want to make Blackburn Benni's club.
"It could be the last big contract of his career, you could never say. But we'd love for him to stay here for a long time.
"Technically, and in terms of manoeuvring the ball, he's as good as there is and if we can get him in the right areas then he can produce."
McCarthy has scored an impressive 35 goals in 81 appearances for Rovers since he joined the club from Porto in a £2.5 million deal at the beginning of last season.
At one point last summer, he did admit his head was turned by speculation linking him with a move to Chelsea but, once that opportunity disappeared, he has since knuckled down again and now appears focused on the job of firing Rovers back into Europe.
He said: "The club has been nothing but generous to me. "They've given me an opportunity that not many other clubs would have given me in the Premiership and I feel I'm repaying them.
"In all fairness, the only way you can repay them is by pledging your future.
"I think my shot at playing in the Champions League has gone if I don't make it with Blackburn.
"If we can't do it then there's probably only four teams where you are guaranteed an easier run of playing Champions League football.
"Either you go to United, you go to Chelsea, or Arsenal, or Liverpool. If you go to any of the other clubs then your chances are limited.
"Blackburn are right up there with the rest (outside the big four)."
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