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Benni's form gives Hughes a headache

Benni McCarthy of Blackburn Rovers celebrates scoring the only goal of the game against Arsenal during their FA Cup fifth round replay at Ewood Park, Blackburn, England, on Wednesday. PHOTO: AP

Benni McCarthy has been warned by Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes that he could pay a heavy price for an international comeback with South Africa.

South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has admitted that he expects McCarthy to end his 14-month international exile after making an impressive start to life in the Premiership with Blackburn.

The Cape Town-born forward has made himself unavailable for his country since his last appearance in the 2-0 African Nations Cup defeat against Tunisia in January last year, but `Bafana Bafana' coach Parreira is confident of persuading the former Porto star to return to the fold.

McCarthy has been dropped to the substitutes bench by Rovers boss Hughes for Blackburn's last two games because of tiredness, however.

And Hughes admits that he would be concerned by McCarthy's ability to handle the extra workload if he answered Parreira's call to return.

Hughes said: "I wasn't aware about Benni playing for South Africa again, but we will have to wait and see. He hadn't played for his country for a while when we signed him last summer, but I have to admit that there was no stipulation from ourselves that that had to remain the case."

"Benni has played well for us but, physically, this has probably been the most demanding season of his career and if he starts to factor in international games as well, then it could become very difficult for him," Hughes said. "The traveling is a factor as well."
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