NORWEGIAN striker John Carew has urged Martin Andresen to quit Blackburn Rovers and head for Spain at the end of the season.

Carew, who is currently on loan at Roma from Valencia, made the move to Spain from Rosenborg in 2000 and he believes a similar switch would be ideal for his international captain.

Speaking ahead of Norway's friendly with Russia last night, Carew said Spain's La Liga would be more suited to Andresen's playing strengths than the hurly burly of the English Premiership, where he failed to make an impact during a previous stint with Wimbledon four years ago.

"Martin Andresen has a great talent, and he has had a good football education, but I don't think that England is the right arena for him," said Carew, who once had a spell on trial at Rovers himself as a schoolboy.

"I think Spain would be much better for him, and if he gets the chance, I would advise him to go there. The style of play would fit him much better."

Andresen, who arrived at Ewood Park from Stabaek in January, has so far refused to be drawn on his future and will delay making a decision until the end of the season. He said: "We can talk about that when the time is right."

Blackburn boss Graeme Souness has been pleased with Andresen's contribution so far.

The 26-year-old midfielder has played in eight of Rovers' last nine games, including the back-to-back victories against Fulham, Leicester and Everton.

But the Rovers chief has yet to decide whether to offer him a permanent contract when his current loan deal expires in the summer.

"He's done okay, especially when you consider a lot of foreigners take a year to get used to our football," said Souness. "He's come here and, like Jon Stead, he's another one who has been thrown in at the deep end and had to play under pressure.

"But he's got a bit of class about him."

In the meantime, Carew certainly had an eventful time during his latest appearance for Roma at the weekend.

The towering striker came on as a second half substitute in Roma's game with Empoli and scored within 90 seconds of his arrival. However, two minutes after that he got sent off after a clash with Jorge Vargas.