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Saturday, July 19, 2008, 08:00
The Pirates will be taking 21 players to Scandinavia for the three-game tour, which includes a match against a Copenhagen XI in the Danish capital on Tuesday.
They then cross the Oresund Bridge to play two games against Swedish opposition in Malmo, facing MABI on Thursday and LB07 a week today.
Trollope has made it clear he feels the trip is important to sharpen match fitness among players who will be in contention for a starting place when their League One campaign opens against Carlisle United next month.
But he insists there will still be room within the pre-season programme for the younger fringe players to build up their fitness.
“There are a lot of younger players in the squad who have trained very hard, and when we get back from Sweden they will get game action,” said Trollope. “But the need to get them fit and ready for games is not as urgent as it is with the first-team squad.
“We have games against Yate, Llanelli and Salisbury when we get back, and those are the matches they need to shine in. We will make sure they have enough training under their belts beforehand.”
Trollope said places for the Scandinavia trip were won on merit – and the coach is expected to announce the make-up of the travelling squad after today's friendly at Torquay United.
“Players have selected themselves in training in the first few weeks, especially the younger ones. Some have stepped up to the plate and some have fallen behind, which is what you expect. The ones who deserve it will travel,” said Trollope.
Josh Klein-Davies has been named in the Wales Under-19 squad for the Milk Cup and Rovers could fly him back after the second game abroad.
On-trial striker Wayne Andrews will spend two weeks at Lilleshall working on his fitness before rejoining the squad. Andrews suffered a knee injury last season.
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