Mark Hughes has rubbished suggestions Blackburn Rovers could
lose top scorer Benni McCarthy.
The South African has 13 goals already this season and his
outstanding form has led to rumours that he could be a target for
the likes of Chelsea.
McCarthy was linked with a move to any number of Premiership clubs,
including The Blues, in the past.
But only Rovers manager Hughes was willing to take the plunge when
he paid Porto £2.5million to sign the player last summer.
The Welshman is understandably keen to retain one of his prize
assets and he admits the speculation is tiresome.
"Whenever I have good players and they have good seasons, people
assume they want to leave and I take exception to that," said
Hughes.
Team-mate Robbie Savage has hailed McCarthy as Rovers' player of
the season so far.
McCarthy came off the bench to cap Rovers' 4-1 FA Cup win at
Everton, and Savage believes that such has been his influence at
Ewood Park supporters have forgotten all about precocious
predecessor Craig Bellamy.
"Benni McCarthy coming off the bench and smashing it in the top
corner proves what a squad we've got, because he's probably been
our best player this year," Savage told Sky Sports News.
"Losing Craig Bellamy was a big blow but Benni's come in and I
think everybody's forgotten about Craig. The way Benni's playing
with the team and as an individual I think he's fantastic."
