Roman Bednar is nearing a return to the Czech Republic squad after being watched by national coach Petr Rada in West Bromwich Albion’s draw against Blackburn.

The Throstles striker has been in the international wilderness since earning his solitary cap as a second-half substitute in a 3-1 home defeat to Serbia in August 2006.

Since then Bednar has been forced to watch his compatriots reach the European Championships without him, despite impressive form for Tony Mowbray’s promoted Albion last season.

Bednar has scored four times this season and that form, with Jan Koller’s international retirement, has pushed him back onto Rada’s radar.

Rada, who replaced long-standing coach Karel Bruckner during the summer, was at The Hawthorns on Saturday and would have been impressed with the player’s typically robust performance.

Bednar will now be hoping he has done enough to win a place in the Czech squad for their Group Three World Cup qualifier with San Marino in Serravalle in a fortnight’s time.

Tony Mowbray said: “I know Roman will want to do well and play for his country.

“I’m only interested in his performance level for our club.

“If his performance level is high and he gets an international call-up then good luck to the boy.

“He is still pretty raw as a centre-forward foraging his way in the Premier League

“I’m delighted he scored again but he still needs to keep working hard.”

Group Three has a strong Albion presence already with Czech Republic’s opponents including Slovenia, captained by Robert Koren, Marek Cech’s Slovakia and Northern Ireland (Chris Brunt).

Reserve Albion striker Bartosz Slusarski has also been capped twice for Poland, although his international credentials look bleak given his lack of action for the Baggies.

Bednar previously made eight appearances at Under-20 level for his country, before stepping up to the Under-21s, where he won four caps and netted twice.

Meanwhile, Blackburn manager Paul Ince has insisted his remarks that football was “not a game for women” following his side’s draw at The Hawthorns were taken out of context, and that they were not meant to be disparaging towards the women’s game.

Ince was critical of referee Mike Jones’ decision to send off Rovers striker Benni McCarthy for two bookings, following what he saw as “two nothing offences”.

He said after the match: “The game is hard enough at the moment. The Premier League is a physical league, it is fast and furious, and people are going to make tackles.

“Give red cards for dangerous and malicious tackles where the studs are up, fair enough. It is not a game for women.”

In an attempt to clarify those comments today, Ince told the club’s official website, www.rovers.co.uk: “My comments were taken out of context, for there is no way that I would ever make disparaging remarks about women’s football.

“In response to a question, I was simply trying to illustrate that the Premier League is a physically tough and very demanding environment.”