I'll put Bristol Rovers first - Mikkel

Mikkel Andersen has vowed to put club before country to ensure he can play as many games as possible for Bristol Rovers.

The 20-year-old Danish keeper is set to win his second Under-21 cap next Tuesday in a friendly against Georgia in Aalborg.

But Andersen says he only agreed to the call-up because the Pirates' game against Leeds – originally scheduled for this weekend – was postponed.

And he will continue to make the club his first priority – even if it means missing future international games.

"I have already talked to the Danish FA about it and told them I'm not going to miss any Bristol Rovers games," said Andersen, who joined the Pirates on an initial three-month loan spell from Reading.

"I want to do well for the club and if I can help to get them where they ought to be, then I want to be part of it.

"The Danish FA understand and respect that, which I'm very pleased about."

Andersen already has two Under-19 caps and one Under-20 cap, but is expected to declare himself unavailable for another Under-21 game next month.

Denmark face Poland in a friendly in Viborg on November 13, the day before Rovers have a home game against Carlisle.

"There's another game coming up in November, which I have already talked to the national coach about," said Andersen.

"He said that if I have a game with Rovers and I want to play, then I should.

"Of course I'm proud to play for my country, but at the same time this is my career and we have been having a great run here."

The Danish senior team look set to book their place in this summer's World Cup finals in South Africa. They are three points clear at the top of Group One with two games remaining and can make sure of their place if they beat Sweden in Copenhagen on Saturday.

"In the long term my ambition is to be involved with the senior squad, and the Under-21s is a route towards that," said Andersen.

"We have the World Cup coming up and I'm still young, so it's very early to talk about that, but it is a goal of mine to try and be involved in it. I might as well be honest and say it because it makes me believe I can make it."

Andersen has made six appearances for Rovers so far and tasted defeat for the first time in Saturday's 5-1 mauling at Norwich.

"That's one of the heaviest defeats I have experienced in my career so far and it's never nice to look back on a result like that," he said.

"I felt devastated and didn't get to sleep until 7am because it was going round and round in my head, but it's gone now.

"We just have to make sure it's a one-off and that we go out and win the next game."