Blackburn Rovers Football Club

• Nickname:Rovers
• Founded:1875
• Manager:Michael Appleton

• Ground:Ewood Park
• Capacity:31367

Rovers open McCarthy talks

13 Feb 2008 - 14:37:15

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Blackburn Rovers have opened negotiations over a new contract with striker Benni McCarthy.

The South Africa international still has more than two years remaining on his existing contract, but Rovers are keen to tie him down to a longer term deal.

The 30-year-old joined Rovers in the summer of 2006 from FC Porto and enjoyed a stellar first season in England after scoring 24 times.

During the current campaign he has found the net just nine times after struggling for form, but Rovers chairman John Williams has revealed new contract talks are progressing.

"Discussions have been on-going for quite a while and we will continue to talk," he told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Meanwhile, Rovers could be without influential defender Andre Ooijer for a number of weeks.

The Netherlands international limped out of Monday night's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal with a suspected hamstring injury.