Source: Team_Talk
Andrews geared up for dramatic spell
The Republic of Ireland midfielder will hope to play a part in his country's bid to reach South Africa 2010 when they entertain Group Eight rivals Bulgaria on Saturday before heading off for a showdown with leaders Italy in Bari four days later.
On his return, the 28-year-old will throw himself back into a very different fight as Blackburn bid to preserve their top-flight status over the remaining eight games of a tense campaign.
It promises to be an eventful few weeks for Andrews but he is relishing the differing challenges ahead of him.
Andrews said: "We have got some vital games - the next two internationals - and then the season finishing with the last eight games in the Premier League, which will obviously determine what league we are going to be in.
"But I have got the utmost confidence at club level that we will be able to stay up, and hopefully we will be okay.
"It's brilliant. These are the games you want to be involved in, they are the exciting times that you train hard to be involved in and to get yourself to a level to be involved in these type of situations.
"I suppose the relegation battle is not one you want to be involved in, but in a way, it's exciting and hopefully if we do stay up, then it will have been worthwhile."
For a week or so, Blackburn's plight will be put to one side as Andrews attempts to help the Republic cement their place in the upper reaches of the group and put clear water between themselves and Italy and the chasing pack.
Giovanni Trapattoni's men and the reigning world champions are locked together on 10 points, seven clear of the third-placed Bulgarians, whose hopes would be dealt a potentially mortal blow by defeat at Croke Park.
Andrews, who made his first senior start for his country in the 2-1 victory over Georgia last month, will hope to retain his place for a double-header which represents arguably the biggest challenge of his career to date.
He said: "They are certainly up there. It's a vital few days in terms of where we are going to end up in the group.
"We are under no illusions as to how big this is and I am certainly looking forward to it."
Andrews has been caught up in something of a whirlwind in the last season, which he started in League One with MK Dons.
He secured a £1.3million switch to Ewood Park when former boss Paul Ince offered him the chance to follow him to Lancashire, and his form for Rovers persuaded Trapattoni to hand him a first cap in the friendly defeat by Poland in November, in which he scored as a substitute.
Andrews said: "It's been fantastic. It's been hectic - I started off playing a couple of games in League One for MK Dons, and then the move to Blackburn and really the icing on the cake, getting involved with the Ireland squad and getting a starting place.
"It's gone really well. To get my first cap and score was very pleasing.
"The result didn't go our way [against Poland], but it was a friendly at the end of the day, so it wasn't the be all and end all.
"We didn't start well against Georgia, but we got the result and I was reasonably pleased with my performance.
"Things are going well, but I am under no illusions. There is a lot of competition for places in the squad, but I am certainly hoping to keep my place."
