Aussie Rules

BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes is facing a potential selection headache when he returns from international duty in 10 days' time.

Hughes will hook up with his Wales squad in the next 24 hours in preparation for their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against England and Azerbaijan.

But when the 40-year-old returns to his day job at the back end of next week, he could find himself without Lucas Neill and Brett Emerton for Rovers' next Premiership game with Middlesbrough.

For Neill and Emerton have both been named in Frank Farina's Australian squad for their Confederations Cup double-header with the Solomon Islands.

And that means the Blackburn duo face a gruelling trip to the other side of the world and back before they are due to return to England on the Friday before Rovers face Boro at Ewood on the Saturday.

"I'm not going to stand in an international manager's way because I know the problems," said Hughes.

"It's a qualifying game so it's obviously important for them and when you've got international players you understand that at certain times they are going to be away from your football club.

"All the travel arrangements have been done by the Australian Federation but we'll be talking to them and making sure that on the way home they'll be doing all the things recovery wise that they need to do to offset any effects of the travel that they might have encountered."

In the past, clubs have been punished for not releasing players for international duty.

Mark Viduka once received a ban for missing an Australian game during his time at Leeds United.

So although Emerton and Neill's participation is likely to effect their preparations for the Boro game, Hughes and Rovers had little choice but to release them.

"It's not ideal but they'll look after themselves," added Hughes.

The Solomon Islands host the first leg in Honiara on Saturday, October 9 with the return match in Sydney three days later.

Rovers reserves are away to West Bromwich Albion tonight (kick off 7pm).