IN-FORM Clarets keeper Nik Michopoulos is looking to record a hat-trick of clean sheets for the first time in Burnley's goal this weekend.

But it looks like his hopes of a recall to the international squad have been dashed for the time being at least.

The Greek's record of conceding just one goal in five November games has been a key factor in the Clarets return to top spot and he had hoped that events in East Lancashire have been noted in Athens.

But a recent press briefing by Greece's manager Otto Rehagel suggests he is still some way short of a return to national duty.

Michopoulos has admitted that he hopes to force his way back into the national squad having won 13 international caps in the past.

But Rehagel explained he is going on a European tour and listed four different players he wants to see in action in Belgium, Holland, Italy and Germany. A trip to Turf Moor is not at present on his itinerary. However, with Burnley's Greek Under-21 striker Dimitri Papadopoulos a regular in the national squad, Michopoulos at least knows that Turf Moor is a location that is known to the Greek manager.

The 31-year-old was only beaten by Peter Crouch's fortuitous effort for Pompey this month and, while he has been well protected by his outfield players, he appears to have steadied after some early season mistakes.

While his errors at Norwich, West Brom, Gillingham and at home to Barnsley were hardly in the Fabien Barthez class, they did cost the Clarets crucial points with manager Stan Ternent openly critical on a couple of occasions. But Michopoulos is a strong character and he has been working hard under goalkeeping coach Alex Stepney at the club's Gawthorpe training ground and the former Manchester United and England keeper has already noted improvement this season.

Stepney explained: "At 31 I could tell straight away that Nik has been, and is still, a top-class keeper. He knows his area and he knows his angles.

"The one thing I did notice is, like a lot of foreign keepers, he had a tendency to stay on his line rather than come for crosses, often choosing to punch not catch.

"But he has got a safe pair of hands and that is something we have worked on a lot."

His handling has certainly been good in the last two victories although he has hardly been tested by either the Coventry or Grimsby attacks in terms of shots on goal.

But since he took over from Paul Crichton for the game against Huddersfield 14 months and 60 league games ago he has not managed to keep three clean sheets on the bounce.

He did shut out free scoring Crystal Palace when the two sides met at Turf Moor a month ago but on Saturday he will have to cope with the added threat of striker Dougie Freedman.

Tonight Burnley could lose their cherished top spot if Wolves can beat Barnsley at Molineux.