South Africa boss Carlos Alberto Parreira has advised Benni McCarthy to quit Blackburn before his lack of football costs him a World Cup place.

The former Porto hitman has struggled to make the Rovers starting line-up this season and his fitness is suffering as a result.

McCarthy started his first game for the national side since February this year in South Africa’s draw with Japan on Saturday at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

The former Ajax forward, who turned 32 this week, showed some impressive glimpses of what he is capable of before he was substituted just after the hour mark.

But Parreira believes the only way McCarthy will return to full fitness is if he plays regular first-team football for his club.

“I cannot speak on his behalf, but I heard him say that in the January transfer window, he will decided a new direction in his career maybe to go to a club where he can play because I don’t think a player like him would be happy to be in the reserves and not playing and coming to the national team out-of-shape because of this,” said Parreira.

“So, If he wants my advice I think he should look for a club where he can play.”

According to recent reports McCarthy has been linked with a move to Portsmouth and former clubs Ajax and Porto.