BLACKBURN Rovers attacker Josh King has headed off on international duty with praise ringing in his ears.

The Norway international partnered Jordan Rhodes up front in Saturday’s 0-0 home draw with Huddersfield and his performance was hailed by manager Gary Bowyer and new team-mate Shane Duffy.

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King, making only his third start of the season and his first since August 16, hit the bar with a header, directed another wide, and forced Huddersfield hero Alex Smithies into a fine save with his feet.

Rovers boss Bowyer said: “I thought he was a constant threat.

“We’ve seen him playing up front for us before and most recently for his country against England.

“His pace is a constant threat and what he needs to do is add an end product to it – and he had the chances on Saturday.

“His pace is a massive thing, it threatens most back fours.”

After Norway’s 1-0 defeat to England at Wembley last month King spoke to the Norwegian media about his frustration over a lack of playing time at Ewood Park.

But the 22-year-old, who is in Norway’s squad for their Euro 2016 qualifiers with Malta and Bulgaria, has staked a strong claim to retain his place in Bowyer’s line-up for the trip to Ipswich Town on Saturday week.

That was the verdict of man-of-the-match Duffy after the Terriers stalemate.

Duffy, a transfer deadline day arrival from Everton, said: “I thought he was brilliant from the first minute and he’s not the type of player I’d like to play against.

“He’s big and strong but obviously that final bit wasn’t to be because he had a few chances.

“But you can’t blame him as he thought he was one of our best players and I thought he staked a claim to stay in the team.

“He did well and hopefully it’ll be more of the same.”

King, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is not the only Rovers first-team player away on international duty this week.

Duffy’s centre-back partner and captain Grant Hanley is in the Scotland squad for their clashes with Georgia and Poland while midfielder Corry Evans has joined up with Northern Ireland ahead of their own Euro 2016 qualifiers, against Faroe Islands and Greece.

Young defender Darragh Lenihan, an unused substitute against Huddersfield, is in the Republic of Ireland U21s squad for their friendly with Norway U21s.