SAINTS manager Nigel Adkins will be keeping his fingers crossed that his first-team stars emerge unscathed from international duty tonight.

Gaston Ramirez is the most high-profile player from the squad away representing his country.

The club-record signing is due to feature for Uruguay in their friendly against Poland, in Gdansk.

Ramirez, a £12m signing from Bologna, has only just returned from a leg injury that kept him out for about five weeks.

Centre half Maya Yoshida was also set to play this evening, as Japan visit Oman for a World Cup qualifier, while midfielder Steven Davis will skipper Northern Ireland, as they face Azerbaijan in a qualifier at Windsor Park.

Then there is forward Emmanuel Mayuka, who is with Zambia for their match against South Africa, in Johannesburg.