• McCarthy’s absence from training angers Sam Allardyce
• West Ham keen to sign two strikers during transfer window

West Ham have submitted a written offer for Benni McCarthy, according to the striker’s club Blackburn Rovers. Gianfranco Zola’s side have been linked with the South African after his manager, Sam Allardyce, said he could leave during the current transfer window.

McCarthy has not impressed Allardyce by failing to turn up for the last two training sessions and his days at Blackburn appear to be numbered. The 32-year-old has struggled to find form this season, scoring only once in the Premier League and regularly finding himself left out by Allardyce.

“We are very disappointed with Benni’s non-appearance for training and will deal with it separately should he remain here after the transfer window has closed,” said Allardyce.

“We have said all along that we will listen to offers, but only agree to sell if both the commercial and football reasons satisfy Blackburn Rovers. That situation remains unchanged.”

West Ham are desperate to bolster their attacking options and their new owners, David Sullivan and David Gold, who completed their takeover of the club last week, have pledged to sign two strikers this month. Injuries to Carlton Cole, Guillermo Franco and Zavon Hines have stretched their forward line to breaking point and Zola was recently forced to give the 18-year-old striker Frank Nouble his Premier League debut at Aston Villa.

Sullivan last week went public with an attempt to bring Ruud van Nistelrooy to West Ham on a £100,000 a week contract, but the Dutchman opted to join Hamburg instead. West Ham, only out of the bottom three thanks to their superior goal difference, are also thought to be monitoring Monaco’s Eidur Gudjohnsen and Stoke City’s James Beattie.

Transfer windowWest Ham UnitedBlackburn RoversPremier LeagueSam Allardyceguardian.co.uk

Goals from centre-halves, Chris Samba and Ryan Nelsen, secured Blackburn Rovers’ first league victory in two months and presented their manager Sam Allardyce with much-needed breathing space.

After a run of nine winless games that marked his return from hospital, the Blackburn manager had been under pressure, although with his side in 12th, he will feel that bit more secure tonight. However, only in the second half could he claim to have managed the better side.

Some of Fulham’s football was slick, if slightly overelaborate, and had Clint Dempsey not struck the crossbar with a wonderfully judged overhead kick when his side was only one down, Fulham might have seized something from this game. As it is, they have followed up their emphatic dismissal of Manchester United with three straight defeats, although in none of them were they overwhelmed. Nevertheless the loss of Paul Konchesky after the broken collarbone sustained by Bobby Zamora at Stoke, was a significant blow.

Allardyce made some significant changes from the side beaten at Ewood in Thursday’s Carling Cup semi-final, paring Benni McCarthy with Nikola Kalinic for the first time. Mostly, it worked.

And although Blackburn’s opener came from a dreadfully scuffed McCarthy corner, that was only half-cleared by Damien Duff and then finished off by Samba in his 100th game for the club, it would not have been awarded had Mark Schwarzer not been forced to save brilliantly from the South African.

Unlucky to be one down at the interval, Fulham’s comeback never really materialised and some dreadful defending at another set-piece from McCarthy – this time a free-kick – allowed Nelsen a clear run and a free header to settle matters.

Premier LeagueBlackburn RoversFulhamTim Richguardian.co.uk