Double honours for Benni McCarthy

Benni McCarthy's wonderful first season in the English Premiership was topped off this week with double honours at his club Blackburn Rovers.

The South African striker was presented with a goal-of-the-season award for his great strike that put Arsenal out of the FA Cup and he was also named players' player of the year.

"Both are extremely prestigious honours," said Andy Neild of the Lancashire Telegraph.

"The goal of the season is run by our newspaper and the club, with the fans voting for the winner. It's called the Peter Whyte Memorial Trophy... named after a journalist who covered Rovers for about 20 years. Some top players like Damien Duff, Andy Cole, Craig Bellamy and Steven Reid have won it," added Neild.

"Of course, being voted for by your own teammates makes the players' award really special, it shows the impact Benni had on everyone at the club."

McCarthy, who joined Rovers on a ?2,5-million transfer from Porto last July, finished with 18 goals, two behind the league's top scorer Didier Drogba of Chelsea.

He hit another four goals in cup competitions with his stunning winner against the Gunners the highlight.

The striker picked up another honour just before flying home to Cape Town on Wednesday when he was named the best newcomer in the Premiership at the WKD Nuts Football awards in London.

Nuts Magazine is a "lads mag" and the event is run in conjunction with ITV who will screen the glitzy evening next week. Chelsea striker Drogba walked off with the top award.