TONY PARKES can go into the last international break of the season 'rest' assured that Rovers are on the brink of Premiership safety.

The caretaker boss said that the pressure of avoiding the drop was taking an extra lager to send him off at night - but now he can sleep easy because he has almost done it.

Tuesday night's 4-1 mauling of Euro-chasing Sheffield Wednesday (April 22) leaves Rovers just one point short of Parkes' target of 42 points with three games still to go - away at Southampton before two home games against Leicester City and Middlesbrough.

After the surprising point at Arsenal and one of the best performances of the season against a usually water-tight Wednesday, Rovers are now six points above the relegation zone.

The blank weekend gives Parkes a chance to nurse some of his players through injuries with Chris Sutton in the wars again after picking up a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the second half of the Wednesday victory.

And Norwegian Per Pedersen - who replaced Sutton - injured a shoulder but both should be fit in time for the trip to Southampton on May 3.

For Graeme Le Saux - on international duty with England against Georgia at Wembley next Wednesday (April 30) - and Jason Wilcox, the break affords time to think about their Ewood futures.

Meanwhile Shay Given still proves to be the most sought after keeper if the tabloids are anything to go by with Liverpool the latest in the long line of Premiership clubs looking to sign the gifted young Irishman.

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