Video - Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Ferguson seeks clarity over Luke McCullough's international trip

McCullough was named this week in O’Neill’s party for the dual friendlies ahead of Euro 2014, with the centre-half essentially a squad option for Northern Ireland and not among the regulars expected to line-up in France in the summer.

Ferguson is conscious that McCullough could miss huge relegation clashes with Colchester on March 25 and Blackpool on Easter Monday and the Rovers chief is seeking clarity as to whether McCullough is likely to be utilised.

Ferguson, who welcomes James Coppinger and Craig Alcock back for the crucial weekend game with his former club Peterborough, said: “I have had a conversation with Luke and will have a conversation with Michael and we will see where we go with it.

“I don’t want to scupper the boy’s chance of playing in a tournament like that, but I have got to be aware that loyalties lie with Doncaster.”

Meanwhile, Ferguson has revealed that Rovers have made an enquiry about potentially bringing back Curtis Main from his loan spell at relegation rivals Oldham - but any recall hinges on agreement between the player, his parent club, the player and the Latics.

Ferguson said: “At the moment he’s still there.

“We’ve made an enquiry about possibly bringing him back but we’ve not had any decision on that.

“It’s not just as simple as we want to bring him back. It has to be agreed by all parties.

“The lad wanted a clause in his deal that after 28 days if we wanted it, he could come back.

“Clearly now the decision is the boy either comes back or he doesn’t.”