McCarthy not ruling out national return

Benni McCarthy said the door is not closed on a possible return to the South African national team, amid growing calls for his inclusion.

McCarthy remains Bafana Bafana’s all-time leading scorer with 31 goals and when quizzed over a possible return to the national team set-up, the Orlando Pirates marksman suggested he would honour a call-up.

“I’m a South African and I never said I will never play for the national team, but that’s out of my control … it is up to the selectors,” he said, according to Kickoff.com.

However, the former Porto and Blackburn Rovers striker has reiterated his view that the focus should be on younger players with the view to building for the future.

“I still think this country has enough good young players to take the national team forward if only they select players on merit,” McCarthy added.

The 34-year-old scored twice during Pirates’ 3-2 Soweto Derby win over Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday.