Charlie Mulgrew says Rovers must be ready for the challenges which lie in wait after the international break.

Rovers host Aston Villa on Saturday before trips to Derby County and Stoke City before a Carabao Cup tie at Premier League side Bournemouth.

Tony Mowbray’s side will play three of the divisions heavyweights on the return to action, and face a Villa side who like Rovers were beaten 4-1 going in to the international break.

But Mulgrew, who is expected to line up for Scotland against Albania this evening, says the players will want to provide a reaction to the Ashton Gate loss, their first defeat of the season.

“We’re going to have to be ready to deal with those challenges,” he said.

“It will be difficult, we know, but it’s down to us to put in the performances to get results.

“We will definitely be looking for a reaction.”

Mulgrew was part of the Scotland side beaten 4-0 by Belgium on Friday and will hope for better in tonight’s UEFA Nations League clashwith Albania.

As for Rovers, they sit 13th in the early Championship table with nine points from their opening six games.

Despite a goal from the 32-year-old, direct from a corner, Rovers were beaten by Bristol City, only their third defeat since February.

On how things have gone for Mowbray’s men post promotion, the defender said: “It’s been a pretty steady start, mid-table.”

“We feel there is more to come, we want more.

“The disappointment against Bristol City showed that we wanted to stay unbeaten for as long as we could.

“We were disappointed with that but it’s how we react.

“We need to get ready to go again and look to start winning games again.”

Mulgrew had captained Scotland in three of their four matches prior to the Belgium defeat, with Liverpool full-back Andrew Robertson named permanent captain of his country in the build-up.

But Mulgrew said: “There are a lot of leaders within the squad.

“It doesn’t matter who is captain, we just have to make sure we’re all doing our jobs and be ready to call upon.”