McCarthy collapsed after a clash of heads and was taken from the field at Middlesbrough on a stretcher and wearing a neck brace.

A Blackburn spokesman said: "Benni looks to be okay, he went to hospital but he's out now and will travel home with the team."

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes added: "We got word when we were in the dressing room that he is okay.

"There was a concern when he went off - after the initial impact he was able just to walk off and then he passed out.

"There was genuine concern at seeing a player being taken off on a stretcher with his neck in a brace."

McCarthy's replacement Roque Santa Cruz made a dramatic impact on his Premier League debut by scoring the equaliser before fellow sub Matt Derbyshire struck a stunning winner only 23 seconds after coming on.

Hughes, who saw his side hit back to win 2-1, added: "You don't want to make changes in those situations but Roque - and Matt - came on and had an immediate impact.

"They were two great goals - really great goals."

The match ended in a mass scuffle after the final whistle when George Boateng blasted the ball into Morten Gamst Pedersen's midriff provoking the rest of the Blackburn team to charge over and confront him.

Hughes said: "One of Middlesbrough's players was a bit out of order at the end and my players reacted to that.

"Someone was struck by the ball, someone was scratched but we are not going to make a big deal out of it."

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate revealed that the club are still pursuing Egyptian striker Mido but had struck an obstacle in terms of the fee being asked by Tottenham.

Southgate said: "We are very keen to do it and he's of the same mind by the sound of it. He would bring more experience to the side.

"It is still in negotiation with his club. We thought it was sorted but there has been a bit of a twist to it and we have to be patient."

Asked what the "twist" was, Southgate said: "Just the deal seems to be a bit different for us compared to other clubs. We are still in negotiations."

Southgate believed Middlesbrough were unlucky to lose the match after Stewart Downing had put them ahead with a curling free-kick.

He added: "For a long period thought we were on course to win it.

"After the McCarthy injury there was a long stoppage and we seemed to lose a bit of momentum.

"They scored two top-quality finishes but we still kept coming back and when the chance in the last minute did not go in you just think this is not going to be our day.

"I'm not down though because we showed a lot of promise against a good and experienced side but it is a bit like air being let out of a balloon - we are deflated."