Santa told to stay put

Benni McCarthy has urged fellow frontman Roque Santa Cruz to think twice before leaving Blackburn in the January transfer window.

Paraguay international Santa Cruz has openly expressed his desire to play Champions League football instead of becoming embroiled in a relegation dogfight, although new manager Sam Allardyce has said he is under no pressure to offload the Ewood favourite to generate funds for his own in-comings.

McCarthy, who has returned to the Blackburn attack with three goals in three games, warned: "Here, you are appreciated, but go elsewhere and you have to start all over again. Who knows whether you will be as popular as you were at your previous club when you join your next one?"

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes, who first brought Santa Cruz to England when he was in charge of Blackburn, is on the lookout for a new striker and has been linked with a return raid on Ewood.

"With other teams, it is each man for himself because you earn good money and you are supposed to get on with your own life," McCarthy added.