East Lancashire stars on international duty (From Lancashire Telegraph)

East Lancashire stars on international duty

2:54pm Monday 6th September 2010 in

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A HOST of Blackburn Rovers and Burnley stars were on international duty over the weekend.

Rovers midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen started for Norway in their Euro 2012 qualifying victory in Iceland, while Brett Emerton featured in Australia’s 0-0 friendly draw in Switzterland.

Chris Samba returned to international action for Congo as they lost their opening Africa Cup of Nations qualifier 2-0 in Sudan but Jason Brown did not make the bench for Wales’ 1-0 qualifying loss in Montenegro.

Zurab Khizanishvili, who has joined Reading on loan for the final year of his Rovers contract, started for Georgia in their 1-1 draw in Greece.

Burnley’s Martin Paterson was an unused substitute for Northern Ireland as they won 1-0 in Slovenia, while Andre Bikey similarly spent the game on the bench as Cameroon won a Africa Cup of Nations qualifier 3-1 in Mauritius.

At under 21 level, Rovers’ Martin Olsson could not prevent Sweden losing 2-1 at home to Israel in a Euro 2011 qualifier but Frank Fielding and Phil Jones helped England to a 1-0 win in Portugal – with Burnley loanee Jack Cork coming on as a substitute.

Rovers duo Alan Judge and Gavin Gunning played for Republic of Ireland under 21s as they lost 1-0 in Switzerland.

Most of those involved over the weekend will be in international action again tomorrow.