BLACKBURN Rovers’ Croatian striker Nikola Kalinic has told his country he does not want to be considered for international duty next weekend as he focuses on getting himself ready for the Premier League.

The £6million signing from Hajduk Split has yet to start a league game for Rovers, as he gets given time to adjust to life in England, and has told the Croatian FA to leave him out for the moment.

Kalinic, 21, said: “I was talking with the secretary of the Croatian FA Zorislav Srebrnic and I told him that I'm not physically ready to play for Croatia.

"For that reason it is better for me to stay in Blackburn.

"That is what Sam Allardyce also told me, and so I will able to work on some special training when players are on international duty.”