McCarthy dreams of double

Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy is hoping to beat United twice before the season ends - in the Premiership this Saturday and again in the FA Cup final.

The Reds take on Mark Hughes' side at Old Trafford as United get back to league duties following the international break. And McCarthy is looking forward to what he hopes will be the first of two matches against the team he supported as a boy before the end of the season.

"I think United will win the league this year," he told United Review. "Playing them at Old Trafford is about as difficult as it gets in the Premiership. But Blackburn have done well against United under Mark Hughes so we’ll look to continue that."

The second meeting would be in the FA Cup final at Wembley. The South African international scored the decisive goal when Rovers upset Arsenal in the fifth round. Now he wants to complete Blackburn's cup quest by conquering two of his manager's (and boyhood idol) Hughes' old clubs, Chelsea and then United.

"Everybody is excited about the semi-final," admits McCarthy. "It doesn't matter that we'll face Chelsea, we're playing to win. We know it will be tough, but it's a one-off game and we're genuinely confident of reaching Wembley. We knocked Arsenal out and have enjoyed a really good run in the Cup.

"When I was a kid in South Africa, I always dreamed of playing in an FA Cup final at Wembley. Now that the stadium is open it could come true - and it might be against Manchester United. I've always said that dreams can come true..."

McCarthy is the featured opposition player in United Review, on sale at Old Trafford on Saturday. The official match programme can also be delivered to your door on matchdays.[Via]