Darragh Lenihan is hoping good form for Rovers is enough to see him earn a second Republic of Ireland cap within the next week.

Lenihan made his debut for his country during the summer internationals, making a big impression off the bench in the win over USA in June.

Although he has continued to be named in Martin O’Neill’s squads, he failed to make the bench for either of last month’s Dublin double-header against Wales and Denmark.

O’Neill’s assistant Roy Keane was again in the stands at Ewood Park on Saturday to watch the 24-year-old who will hope to be more involved in games against Northern Ireland tomorrow and Denmark next Monday.

But Lenihan knows playing well for Rovers will give him the best possible chance of getting a chance at international level.

 “It was quite frustrating because I wasn’t involved in either squad,” he said of last month’s matches.

“It was a difficult trip so I was glad to get back and training when I got back with the boys again.

“You can train all you want but it’s the games you want to be involved in.

“I know I just need to keep my head down, keep working hard for Blackburn and for myself and I will do that to the best of my abilities.”

Lenihan has shaken off a bruised hip, picked up at Swansea City last month to be named in the squad.

Defensive partner Derrick Williams had been named in the provisional squad, but won’t travel to meet up with his international team-mates due to a slight hamstring injury which saw him miss the draw with Rotherham.

Injuries to Charlie Mulgrew at two different points of the season have seen Lenihan, at times, become the more senior of Rovers’ two central defenders this season.

And Lenihan feels his game has improved under Tony Mowbray, a former defender himself.

“I think he has,” Lenihan said when asked if the boss had helped bring his game on.

“And not just me as a player, but as a group, as a unit, a back four we’re in the right positions more often than not.

“He’s always on to us about when we don’t have the ball, be good behind the ball, and I think myself and Charlie have both benefited from that.”

Rovers head in to the international break ninth in the table, with 26 points from their 17 games.

That leaves them just three places, and two points shy, of the play-off places, but Lenihan says Rovers aren’t getting ahead of themselves, despite a good return to life in the second tier.

He added: “We look after ourselves. Whatever is talked about outside the dressing room, we leave that be.

“We think about the next game that’s coming, we don’t want to look too far down the line and want to focus on doing the best we can in every game.

“It’s a squad game, some days it can be Bradley Dack, others Adam Armstrong and then Charlie Mulgrew, so there’s going to be days for everyone and everyone is pulling in the same direction.”