ROBBIE Savage today told Benni McCarthy he would be mad to leave Blackburn this summer because he firmly believes the club is going places under manager Mark Hughes.

McCarthy's future at Rovers was thrown into fresh doubt at the weekend when a tabloid newspaper carried quotes allegedly from the player, which said if a side in the Champions League came calling this summer, he would find it hard to resist.

Although Hughes has since dismissed that story, claiming those comments were cherry picked' from a recent interview McCarthy gave to a Portuguese newspaper, the speculation surrounding his star striker shows few signs of going away.

However, Savage reckons McCarthy would be making a big mistake if he walked out on Blackburn now, and he points to Craig Bellamy as evidence of the fact a move to one of the Premiership's big four is not always the dream it is painted out to be.

The 32-year-old midfielder said: "I honestly believe we can break into the top six next season if we keep this squad together and make a few additions over the summer.

"We've got a great manager, great coaching staff and some terrific players, so it bugs me when people see this club as a stepping stone.

"Craig Bellamy had a great season when he was here - probably one of the best of his career - but then he upped and left for Liverpool last summer.

"Now there's talk of Benni McCarthy moving on to bigger and better things.

"Benni's a great lad and he's been brilliant for us this season, but I really hope he realises this is a club that's going places.

"At the end of the day, the grass isn't always greener elsewhere."

McCarthy has been a revelation during his debut season in English football, scoring 24 goals in all competitions, including 18 in the Premiership, a figure bettered only by Chelsea's Didier Drogba.

Speculation about the South African's future - however unwanted - is therefore inevitable, but with Rovers primed for a fresh assault on the Premiership's top six next season, plus the possibility of another UEFA Cup campaign to look forward to, Savage believes there are enough challenges to satisfy McCarthy at Ewood.

"I would have loved to have played in the Champions League for a club like Chelsea or Manchester United but I know I'm not good enough for that level.

"However, I don't agree with people saying they want to better themselves elsewhere because that's detrimental to the players we already have here - the likes of Tugay and Brad Friedel.

"Blackburn is the best club I've ever been at without a doubt.

"It's a club that's won the Premier League and we've got a great manager who can take us back into the top six again next season - I have no doubts about that.

"The big four will always be the big four but after that, I honestly don't believe there's anyone better than us and hopefully Benni will realise that."