SAM Allardyce has challenged his Blackburn Rovers players to show Benni McCarthy they won’t miss him – as he steps up his hunt to bring in “better players” to Ewood Park.

Rovers entertain Wigan Athletic tonight in a crucial Premier League encounter without the South African, after a fee, believed to be in the region of £2million, was agreed with West Ham and he was given permission to speak to the Londoners.

Several issues remained unresolved though last night, including work permit complications, but McCarthy is expected to complete his Hammers switch in the next few days - potentially in time for a debut against Rovers on Saturday.

Rovers were initially reluctant to sell the mercurial South African before a replacement had been lined up but, after the striker went AWOL, Allardyce gave the green light to the board to sell if the offer was right – leaving him continuing his search for fresh faces.

The Rovers boss is confident of bolstering his squad ahead of Monday’s close of the transfer window but, ahead of Wigan’s visit tonight, insists his squad is good enough to make light of the loss of McCarthy.

Allardyce said: “The players haven't mentioned it. We are so focused on the Wigan game, which is our main priority, that everything surrounding Benni is not important.

“It's up to the players to go out and show that we don't need Benni McCarthy. That we can do it without him. That would be great.

“We have a good squad, we have a very talented squad. It has not fulfilled its expectation in results. But it is getting gradually better and better and it is not going to harm us too much if Benni leaves.”

West Ham’s cash for McCarthy will boost Allardyce’s search for fresh blood this month, with the Rovers boss revealing negotiations have already started with potential targets.

Rumoured target Monaco striker Eidur Gudjohnsen is unlikely to be brought to Ewood but Stoke City’s James Beattie is believed to be high up on Allardyce’s wish-list.

The Rovers boss has though hinted he could be tempted to stick with what he has got in terms of strikers, with Stuttgart’s Turkish midfielder Yildiray Bastürk a possible alternative to an out and out striker.

The 31-year-old midfielder would bring more creativity to the side , with Allardyce content with striking options of Nikola Kalinic, Jason Roberts, Franco Di Santo and David Dunn.

He said: “We have got plenty of others that are there to be got, we haven’t got them yet, but time moves on and as it gets closer, we are negotiating with players right now and looking to put those transfers in place.

“I believe if Benni goes, we will have at least one deal, perhaps not to replace him though. It might be a better player to what we have got but it might not be on the front line.

“I don’t really believe that it has to be one in one out in that position.

"If a big player turns up that we believe can make a big difference in whatever position then that should be the replacement for Benni McCarthy.”