Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy is hoping Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will give him another crack at the Champions League.

McCarthy, the 29-year-old who played under Mourinho at Porto, finished second in the Premiership goalscoring charts and admits he would relish a return to the highest level.

Moving from Ewood Park would give Blackburn a healthy return on the £2.5million they paid Porto last year but would also deprive them of the striker that kept them in the hunt for UEFA Cup qualification.

"It's not like I owe them my life or they owe me for bringing me into the Premier League, for which I am totally grateful, and they will always have a place in my heart," said South Africa international McCarthy, speaking at the WKD Nuts Football Awards 2007.

"With the goals I've scored and the work I've put in, in that way I've paid back my dues.

"If something extraordinary does come and it's a big team, a Champions League team, then I would love to ask for the opportunity to try my fortunes at a higher level, at the biggest stage."

He added: "I'm still a Blackburn player but I'd love to play in the Champions League again."

With Mourinho and a host of ex-Porto players at Stamford Bridge, McCarthy is supporting Chelsea in Saturday's FA Cup final.

"I've grown up supporting Manchester United and I still love them but on the other hand I've got a lot of friends at Chelsea and one special friend who is Mourinho," he said.

"We go a long way back and he's been amazing to me. I've only got good things and great memories about him. Obviously I want Chelsea to win because of Mourinho, (Ricardo) Carvalho, (Paulo) Ferreira and all my mates like (Didier) Drogba, (Michael) Essien and (Claude) Makelele.

"They could have won everything and in a week it was like Arsenal - they lost the league and the Champions League. They have the FA Cup left.

"Hopefully if they win that they can probably build a stronger team. Next season he'll want to win the league and Champions League.

"He'll want to come for bigger and better players and hopefully I'll fall in the category that he'll look for."

Mark Hughes had to rebuild his attack last summer when Craig Bellamy left for Liverpool after a season at Ewood Park, and the Blackburn boss would have to do so again if McCarthy departs.

Chelsea has been suggested as a destination because of McCarthy's friendship with Mourinho and other African players at Stamford Bridge, and also their reliance on Didier Drogba in attack last season.

If he did move, McCarthy would have nothing but positive things to say about Blackburn after Hughes beat West Ham, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough to his signature.

"When you come from a Champions League team you miss playing against the likes Barcelona, AC Milan and the big-shots of world football," said McCarthy.

"Blackburn are probably not a team that will help me with that but it's a great team, a family team and I'm loving every moment of it.

"Sometimes I do have wishes that I will one day hopefully have the chance to play Champions League football again, and hopefully that will come true.

"I'm not saying I want to leave Blackburn if the chance did come then I'd love to have a go.

"I've felt very flattered because you play for a small team compared to the big four, to come into the hardest league and do well and get linked with one of the big four, it's amazing."

Along with reaching the FA Cup semi-final, McCarthy described the highlight of his rookie season in England: "To come second ahead of players like Ronaldo and Rooney who are playing for the big teams and I'm only playing for a modest team."