MARK Hughes will be keeping a keen eye on the internationals being played this evening in the hope that all of his players come through their games unscathed.

As is always the case these days, Rovers have had a host of players away on international this week, with the Rovers boss keeping his fingers crossed that none of his stars pick up any injuries at this important stage of the season.

"It is always a concern for club managers certainly," said Hughes. "We've got something like twelve/thirteen players away at all levels.

"A number played last night for the under 21s, most of them have come back okay, so it is a concern.

"We won't get the whole group back together until our training session on Friday morning and very quickly we jump on a bus and we go down to Reading.

"So from a preparation point of view it is never easy on international weeks and at this stage of the season when there is so much riding on the games then it is more frustrating and more nerve-wracking hoping that your players are going to come through.

"The fact that we've got an away game comes into it, that is more of a concern because we've got the likes of Benni (McCarthy), Roque (Santa Cruz) and Aaron (Mokoena) flying long distances and then coming in for one training session and then having to travel again, so it isn't ideal but there are a lot of other clubs in similar circumstances with similar numbers away during this week so we'll make the best of it.

"Everybody understands that when you've got a group of the quality we have invariably they are international players so you know that."