Portsmouth-Blackburn Rovers Preview

WALTER SIMON,

(AP) -- LONDON (SE) - Portsmouth captain Aaron Mokoena has taken a swipe at Blackburn ahead of his return to Ewood Park on Saturday by claiming South Africa teammate Benni McCarthy wants to leave.

Mokoena quit Blackburn to join Portsmouth in the summer to save his dreams of captaining the hosts at next summer's World Cup finals.

Midfielder Mokoena wants former Porto striker McCarthy to follow him to Fratton Park after being restricted to only 144 minutes of Premier League action this season.

Mokoena said: "Benni has been there and done it and got great experience.

"He is a fantastic player who has won the Champions League. He has had a tough time lately at Blackburn, I spoke to him personally and he feels it is about time for him to move on.

"Hopefully things will work out for him and his future. It is all about playing at the World Cup and to do that you need to be playing for your club.

"It will be good to have him on board but it is up to the manager."

Mokoena played 139 games in four seasons at Blackburn, including two FA Cup semi-finals, but says there will be no room for sentiment.

He added: "I do not have any regret about joining Blackburn or about leaving.

"I had some fantastic years there and the manager offered me a new contract but it was the right time move on.

"This is one of the games I have been looking forward to. I will a chance to rub shoulders with my ex boss and friends up there. Hopefully it will be a great afternoon.

"It is all about us going out there and making it difficult for Blackburn.

"For myself going there and having a positive performance will be what I am looking for."

Portsmouth will be without Steve Finnan because of a groin injury so Belgium international Anthony Vanden Borre will be given a rare Premier League start.

Blackburn defender Ryan Nelsen is looking forward to the home comforts of Ewood Park after two heavy away defeats at title chasers Manchester United and Chelsea.

New Zealand international Nelsen said: "We are looking forward to Portsmouth at home.

"Having played some really tough away games in October, of course it is a welcome to return to Ewood Park. It is a funny game football.

"Portsmouth couldn't get out of the hole they are in then all of a sudden they are walking tall.

"We will be looking forward though to going back to Ewood Park, having played Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United away. No disrespect to Portsmouth.

"Since Sam Allardyce has been here virtually every game at home has been a must-win. Bring it on, it is good fun, that is what we play football for.

"We knew the first 10 games were going to be very difficult and we have got 10 points and that was our minimum points scenario.

"Our next 10 games we are really looking forward to going out and doing a lot better."

Updated November 5, 2009