BLACKBURN Rovers boss Mark Hughes plans to hold 'clear the air' talks with Benni McCarthy today after the striker reacted angrily to being substituted at the weekend.

Disappointed to be replaced in the 61st minute of Saturday's 3-1 victory over Newcastle United, McCarthy headed straight for the tunnel and then left the ground, before the game with the Magpies had reached its climax.

Now the South African marksman, who is Rovers' leading scorer this season with eight goals in all competitions, will be asked to explain his actions during a face-to-face meeting with the manager at Brockhall.

A Rovers source told the Lancashire Telegraph: "Mark is aware of the fact Benni wasn't in the dressing room after the game and he will be meeting with him today to see if there are any issues he wants to raise.

"But he will be surprised if there are."

Hughes is not thought to be overly concerned by McCarthy's actions, believing the player was simply disappointed to be substituted at a time when Rovers were chasing a winner.

Nevertheless, the Rovers chief still wants to talk to his star striker to determine whether or not there is a deeper, underlying problem behind his early exit, and he will get that opportunity today when the squad reconvenes at Brockhall for the first time since the weekend.

Earlier this season, Hughes dropped McCarthy and ordered him to do extra training, claiming the 30-year-old was lacking both the form and fitness to perform at the peak of his powers.

But rather than sulk about it, McCarthy put in the required extra work and soon earned himself a recall, which coincided with him scoring five goals in four games and prompted Hughes to praise his attitude.

More recently though, the goals have dried up for the former Porto ace, who last scored in the Carling Cup win at Portsmouth on October 31.

He was substituted in the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa last week, and the same thing happened again at the weekend, Hughes deciding to put Jason Roberts on in his place instead.