McCarthy in contract talks

Rovers are in talks with Benni McCarthy over extending his current contract, which expires in 2010.  Talks have started with the South African striker but Mark Hughes has stressed there is no definite timeframe regarding the negotiations.

I find the idea of extending McCarthy’s deal somewhat confusing for a number of factors.  Firstly, he currently has two seasons left on his current contract after this campaign. Therefore by the time his deal expires McCarthy will be 32 and surely past the peak of his powers.  Would it not make more sense to evaluate McCarthy’s position at the club once he has just a year left running on his contract?

Also, I think it’s fair to say McCarthy has been a mere shadow of the player we saw score 24 goals last season.  The transfer talk of Chelsea clearly affected him. Once it became clear the move had died, McCarthy became uninterested and has looked that way in the majority of games he has played this season.

Perhaps he has not been helped by Santa Cruz’s form, which has seen him quickly become a fans’ favourite.  But I do still believe that Hughes can get McCarthy back to his old ways.

His performance against Bolton, regardless of the goals, was a much more commmited effort than we have seen previously.  Hopefully now, Benni can press on and re-capture his form last season.  Maybe then will be the time to discuss his long-term future.

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