BLACKBURN Rovers striker Benni McCarthy is ready to put club before country in a bid to ensure he starts his Premiership career with a bang.

The 28-year-old, who starred in Rovers' 5-0 win against New Zealand on Saturday, was due to play for South Africa in their friendly match with Namibia this week.

But after speaking to interim boss Pitso Mosimane, McCarthy has now been given special permission to pull out of the squad, leaving him free to focus all his energy on Saturday's Premiership curtain raiser with Portsmouth instead.

"I'm out of that game. I want to concentrate on Blackburn instead," said McCarthy, who became an instant hit with Rovers fans following his man-of-the-match performance against the Kiwis.

"I'm new at the club so I can't just pitch up here and then fly straight off again with the national team.

"I've cleared it with the manager so I just want to establish myself here in the team and get settled in.

"Once everything is going smoothly then I'll see about going back to the national team.

"But, for now, Blackburn is my main priority."

News of McCarthy's withdrawal will come as a major boost to Rovers boss Mark Hughes, whose plans for the Pompey trip have been seriously hampered by a series of international call-ups.

In total, 15 players from Hughes' first team squad were called up by their respective national coaches last week.

Even Zura Khizanishvili, who has missed the last two games through injury, has been told to report for Georgia's friendly in the Faroe Islands because the national coach wants to make his own assessment regarding the defender's fitness.

"We've got a lot of guys away this week and, like a lot of managers, I'll be hoping they come back fit and well," said Hughes.

Brett Emerton has been spared a trip to Sydney for Australia's AFC Cup tie with Kuwait on Wednesday because of a calf strain, while Lucas Neill was also hoping to receive special permission to withdraw from the match.