Ince offers condolences over McCarthy bereavement

Blackburn will be without Benni McCarthy for Saturday’s Premier League encounter with Sunderland following the death of the South African striker’s father.

McCarthy, who flew home earlier in the week with Blackburn’s blessing, is expected to be replaced by fit-again Roque Santa Cruz, who scored in the midweek League Cup win over Sunderland after coming on as a substitute.

Rovers boss Paul Ince said: “We got word on Tuesday that Benni’s Dad had suffered a massive heart attack.

“He wanted to train but we told him to get over there because family is more important and it could have been the last chance he had to see his father.

“He died on Thursday morning so Benni will be at the funeral on Saturday and he will be back next week.”

Despite the bereavement, McCarthy, who turned 31 on Wednesday, has been included in South Africa’s 23-man squad for a match against Cameroon in the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge, in Rustenburg on Wednesday.

The South African FA have said they will allow the country’s leading forward to make a late decision on whether or not he wants to be involved in the match.