OWEN Coyle is set to give Euro 2016 stars Shane Duffy and Corry Evans a run-out in Rovers’ fifth pre-season friendly at Blackpool tomorrow (3pm).

The pair were given extra time off by their new manager after reaching the last 16 of the tournament in France, but returned to training at Brockhall on Monday and could be in line to feature against the Seasiders.

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Coyle said: “I gave them the three-week break because as soon as the season finished they were back in preparation for the Euros.

“But that being said, they’ve come in in decent shape, so this week gives an opportunity to build it up and hopefully we can get them some minutes on Saturday.

“I think Corry had one or two little niggles in the pre-season last year so we have to make sure that we’re careful with that one.

“But certainly they’re both moving in the right direction and hopefully they can feature on Saturday, and if not Saturday then we play a closed doors game next week against Accrington and they’ll certainly take part in that.

“I would hope that possibly one of them can get some minutes on Saturday at Blackpool.”

Duffy was part of the Republic of Ireland side that made it through the group stages before losing 2-1 to hosts France, a game in which the Rovers defender was sent off.

Evans also progressed to the last 16 of the tournament with Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland, where they were dispatched by Wales.

Rovers will, of course, come face-to-face with their former manager at Bloomfield, Gary Bowyer having been appointed as Blackpool boss on June 1.

The 45-year-old spent two-and-a-half years in the Ewood Park hotseat, stepping in as caretaker following the departure of Henning Berg in December, 2012, and again after the 67-day reign of Michael Appleton.

He was made permanent manager in May, 2013, and guided the club to eighth and ninth-place finishes in the Championship before being sacked in November last year and replaced by Paul Lambert.

Bowyer is on a one-year rolling contract after becoming the Seasiders’ eighth manager since 2012.

Present Rovers boss Coyle gave 16 players a go at Rochdale on Tuesday night, with five outfield players – Scott Wharton, Hope Akpan, Elliott Bennett, Anthony Stokes and Elliott Ward – getting a full 90 minutes in the heat.

Missing out were Ben Marshall, who came down with an illness before the match, and Craig Conway, who was still suffering with a thigh niggle that saw him limp off against Morecambe last Saturday. Both should return to the squad for tomorrow’s match.

Coyle added: “It’s important to recover and then get our heads on so we go to Blackpool on Saturday in good preparation.

“We look forward to that and get one or two that missed out tonight the opportunity for game time.

“So, all being well, we’ll have some freshness coming into the team as well.”