SAM ALLARDYCE admits Benni McCarthy could leave Blackburn Rovers in January.

The South African international is down the pecking order at Rovers, and with the World Cup Finals in his homeland just around the corner, he needs regular first team football.

"At his age I'd understand if he wants to play first-team football and at the moment he can't get it here," said Allardyce. "If he wants to get it somewhere else I'd understand that.

"Benni wants to play football. For me last year he was excellent particularly at home in our plight to climb out of the relegation zone.

"I was looking forward to the start of the season with him but all of a sudden we put David Dunn in at Gillingham away in the hole behind a front man.

"He played so wonderfully well in that game that we have continued that position for him in the first team. He has grasped that position so well that he is our top, top player at this moment in time."

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