IT'S probably fair to say that Blackburn does not feature high on Hugo Porfirio's list of favourite places to visit.

In August 1994, the tricky Portuguese international spent a short spell on trial with Rovers, including playing 50 minutes reserve team football.

But he didn't last long and was soon on the way back to Sporting Lisbon amid some muttering that he did not like the club's style of play - the same style which was to clinch the title some nine months later.

Currently on loan to Nottingham Forest from Benfica, Porfirio now claims to like English football but still intends heading back to Portugal at the end of the season!

He made his first start for Forest against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend and waltzed through their defence to inspire a rare City Ground win with his maiden goal for the club.

But, following the axing of Graeme Souness at Benfica and Forest's relegation, home is beckoning again.

"I like playing in the Premier League, it's my kind of football. But it's very difficult to stay here now that Forest have been relegated," he said.

"Perhaps if Manchester United came in for me I might listen but I have three years left on my contract at Benfica and I will go back to Portugal.

"I wasn't happy under Graeme Souness. We had a strange relationship, a love-hate relationship."

Meanwhile, Alex Ferguson may be interested to know that Porfirio might consider playing for United.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.