Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy has stressed that there is no problem with Mark Hughes and that he wants to stay at Ewood Park. The ex-Porto man has been linked with a move to Serie A.

"I have a contract with Blackburn and nobody at the club has said they don't want me," McCarthy told The People. "If they did not get rid of me in the summer then I don't believe they will now.

"I am working hard every day to be in the team as often as possible. I am giving everything on the pitch when I am in the team. I am ready to play 90 minutes every game.

"Hughes and I have very special characters but we are professionals and we respect each other.

"I have no problem with the coach. The day there is a problem I will leave.

"I have no problem playing alongside Santa Cruz as I said from the start."