A number of Rovers' senior stars got some useful minutes under their belts ahead of Saturday's big kick-off against Everton.

A total of five players were in action for their countries in the midweek internationals, with all seemingly coming through unscathed.

Morten Gamst Pedersen played the full 90 minutes in Norway's 2-1 win over France, setting up Erik Huseklepp's equaliser early in the second half.

Keith Andrews was named in the Republic of Ireland's starting line-up for their glamour friendly against Argentina, staged at the new national stadium.

The Rovers midfielder played 67 minutes in a game that Argentina won 1-0.

In Copenhagen, Lars Jacobsen played the full match as Denmark came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Germany, while Zurab Khizanishvili's Georgia drew 0-0 away to Moldova.

At under-21 level, it was disappointing night for Steven Nzonzi, who played just under an hour of France's 1-0 defeat at home to Belgium.

The result leaves France's aspirations of reaching the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championships hanging by a thread.

Martin Olsson will have to wait for his second senior Sweden cap, after being left on the bench for his country's 3-0 win over Scotland.

Goalkeepers Frank Fielding and Jason Brown were also unused subs, as England came from behind to beat Hungary 2-1 at Wembley and Wales thrashed Luxembourg 5-1.