BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes has admitted he was surprised to hear that Benni McCarthy had been left out of South Africa's squad for the African Nations Cup.

Hughes was expecting to be without his leading goalscorer for up to a month in the New Year whilst he participated in the tournament, which is taking place in Ghana in January.

However, when South Africa's head coach Carlos Alberto Parriera named his 23-man squad on Friday, McCarthy's name was conspicuous by its absence, prompting some to claim that Rovers boss Hughes had struck a deal with the South African FA.

The Rovers boss, who claimed he had no prior knowledge of the player's omission, has since denied that suggestion.

"It was a surprise to Benni initially that he got called back into the squad earlier this year," said Hughes, speaking after Saturday's 3-1 victory over Newcastle at Ewood.

"But it was a new manager and, obviously, he wanted to see what options he had.

"Maybe that's behind it.

"I'd have to speak to Benni because I was unaware of it.

"We haven't put any pressure on Benni or South Africa not to include him, and we were preparing to be without him."

McCarthy, who recently turned 30, is South Africa's top-scorer but it would appear Parriera is now starting to build for the 2010 World Cup, which the African nation is hosting.

Whatever the reasons for McCarthy's exclusion, it's good news for Hughes and Rovers, because it means he will now be available for a crucial period of games in January.