Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy could miss Sunday's clash with the Gunners due to the head injury he sustained at Middlesbrough last weekend.

Manager Mark Hughes has confirmed the South African hitman will definitely not figure in tomorrow night's Uefa Cup qualifier against MyPa-47 in Finland, and his participation in the Arsenal game is also in doubt.

The Rovers chief said: "Benni won't travel with us (to Finland). He will train on Friday and Saturday and then we'll see how he is.

"Hopefully there won't be any reaction and he will be an option for me on Sunday.

"But we will be guided by the medical team and they will decide whether it is good for his health."

Hughes said McCarthy was shaken' by the collision at the Riverside, which left him unconscious for two minutes, but the Rovers boss does not expect his star striker to have any adverse affects when he does return to action.

He added: "It can weigh on your mind but as Benni said, he has a hard head.

"There is a little bit of a concern, but players get bangs on the head all of the time and are fine."