WHEN Benni McCarthy steps out for his West Ham debut at Burnley on Saturday, Clarets fans should expect him to be suitably motivated. Because, it seems, he has always dreamed of playing for the Hammers.

McCarthy is the man who walked out on Blackburn Rovers last week.

Such is football now, he was promptly rewarded for such upstanding behaviour with a move to West Ham and, in all likelihood, a rather favourable signing-on fee.

There was no punishment – save for having to spend the next four months playing alongside Mido, in what is surely likely to be the mardiest strike force in Premier League history.

When he was unveiled at Upton Park, McCarthy revealed that he was both ‘very pleased and extremely happy’, as if the second cliche had in some way expanded on the first.

Then he really went for it.

“This is a great club,” he said, most sincerely. “The reason why I am happy that it has finally happened is because about five years ago I had a disappointing experience when I thought I was going to be a West Ham player until Porto pulled out and I had to go back.

“I would have loved this to be my first Premier League club. I went to Blackburn instead but West Ham kept on pursuing me and eventually I am here.”

We cannot help but feel we might have heard all of this before. Operation charm is well and truly underway, but history suggests McCarthy should be judged on actions rather than words.

The initial enthusiasm is always forthcoming, but Rovers and Porto both know it is rarely sustained.

It is a great shame that two of Rovers’ most famous names of recent years have left in grating fashion.

Roque Santa Cruz’s exit, with his ceaseless pining for Manchester City, was galling enough. But perhaps we should just be grateful that the Paraguayan bothered to turn up for work each day.

That, it seemed, was too much to ask of McCarthy. Sadly, such underhand tactics worked.

Rovers opted to get rid and take their chances on finding a replacement - something they ultimately could not do.

It will be no surprise if McCarthy scores against Burnley at Turf Moor.

If he does, he will no doubt be both ‘very pleased and extremely happy’. A change is as good as a holiday, they say.

After the events of the last week or so, McCarthy is in a good position to compare.