BRAD Friedel's international commitments with the United States could rule him out of Rovers' vital trip to Grimsby next month.

America are due to take on Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifier in Kansas City on April 25 -- just 24 hours after Rovers' game at Blundell Park.

And if Friedel gets the call that could leave Ewood chief Graeme Souness with only two keepers available for a game which may prove crucial to Rovers' promotion chances as Alan Kelly is also likely to get the nod for the Republic of Ireland's qualifier with Andorra.

Souness is already sweating on the availability of some of his stars due to international fixtures that week -- but it's either that or play four times in the last eight days. And, having weighed up the options, Rovers have decided that risking losing players to international duty for one game would be preferable to possibly deciding their promotion fate with four games in the final week of the season.

Apart from Kelly, Damien Duff and Jason McAteer may also be called up for the Republic's clash with the whipping boys of Group Two as Rovers head for Blundell Park.

And Henning Berg could be pressed into action for a friendly with Norway, although Souness will contact their respective managers in the hope that they may look on the situation sympathetically.

But to lose Friedel would be a major blow, particularly as John Filan is currently hampered by a cartilage problem which may require surgery at the end of the season.

The former Liverpool stopper is currently locked in battle with Rayo Vallecano's Kasey Keller for the US number one shirt.

Both have been named in a 20-strong squad for tomorrow's World Cup qualifier with Honduras at the Estadio Olympico in San Pedro Sula.

But manager Bruce Arena has indicated the Rovers keeper looks set to keep his place after keeping a clean sheet in their recent 2-0 victory over Mexico.

And another impressive performance would make him a certainty for the Costa Rica game.

"I think they both think they are the number one and rightly so," said Arena.

"Whoever is left out won't be happy about it but that's all part of it.

"From my point of view, it's healthy to have this kind of competition in goal.

"Friedel proved in our last game against Mexico that he is a quality keeper and Tony Meola has done the same.

"So they're all good keepers and they want to play but that's not going to happen.

"The advantage Friedel has got at this point, though, is the fact he played in the last game and we won."

Friedel faces a dash back across the Atlantic straight after the game in order to link up with his Rovers team-mates ahead of Sunday's big derby date with Burnley at Turf Moor.

Manager Souness and the rest of his first team squad were due back in England today following their week-long trip to Dubai.

And they will start to step up their preparations on Thursday as they look to close the gap on second-placed Bolton.

In the meantime, Souness will be keeping his fingers crossed that all his international players come through tomorrow's fixtures without picking up any fresh injuries.

Keith Gillespie will be on duty for Northern Ireland in Bulgaria while McAteer, Kelly and Duff are all part of Mick McCarthy's squad for the Republic's trip to Andorra.

Berg will also be involved in Norway's group five clash with Belorussia and Eyal Berkovic looks a certain starter for Israel in their group seven clash with Austria in Vienna.

As we reported in later editions last night, Rovers have now agreed on two dates with Liverpool for their forthcoming FA Youth Cup semi-final.

The first leg at Anfield is on Tuesday, April 3, and the return at Ewood has been pencilled in for Wednesday, May 9.

Both games will kick-off at 7pm.