Hughes backs McCarthy to make impact

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes is backing Benni McCarthy to make an impact in the Premiership following a slow start.

The South African international striker is still trying to find his feet at Ewood Park this season following a £2.5m (€3.7m) summer move from Porto.

The signs were good pre-season as McCarthy, in partnership with another new forward in Jason Roberts, found the net on a number of occasions.

However, in Rovers’ four Premiership games to date, McCarthy, like the team in general, has struggled.

Ahead of Sunday’s visit of Manchester City, Blackburn are still attempting to recapture the form that led to last season’s sixth-placed heroics.

McCarthy has scored Rovers’ only league goal, that in a 1-1 draw at home to Everton, but other chances have been few and far between.

Hughes, though, has every confidence McCarthy will soon start to shine as he said: “It’s early days for Benni.

“To be fair with regards to Benni, I feel the expectations are a little too high.

“He has come into a different league. We are only four games in and yet people are expecting him to have a huge impact.

“After scoring goals in pre-season and one in the Premiership, I’m happy with what he is showing at the moment.

“But it will take time, just as it is doing for other big signings at other clubs.

“So I’ve no worries with regard to Benni McCarthy because he is a quality player, a European Cup winner.

“He’ll have an impact at this level and very quickly get stronger as a Premier League player. That’s for sure.”