Wanderers goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and French defender Bernard Mendy have both been ordered to play in friendly internationals on Wednesday - three days before the vital Premiership game at Southampton.

Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce is far from happy with the situation but has been given assurances by both players' federations that they will only play one half of the game.

Jaaskelainen is due to play in Finland's game against Iceland while Mendy will turn out for the French under 21s against Egypt.

Gudni Bergsson should have played in Iceland's game against Jaaskelainen but he, Ricardo Gardner and Henrik Pedersen have all been allowed to pull out of their respective international games this week.

Bergsson feels that at 37, and with two games coming up that could decide Wanderers Premiership future, he needs to rest as much as possible between matches.

Henrik Pedersen, who was put on standby for the Danish team, has decided to withdraw, as has Ricardo Gardner, who plays for Jamaica, but Jermain Johnson will make the trip to play for the Caribbean side.

In Jaaskelainen's case it does at least give him the chance to impress his international bosses and put pressure on current Finnish number one Antti Niemi, the Southampton keeper.

Niemi will miss the midweek game - he has not appeared in Southampton's last four games because of a knee injury - but is hopeful of returning to face the Wanderers in Saturday's game at St Mary's.