MATT Lowton has urged England to call-up his Burnley defensive colleague James Tarkowski or risk losing him to Poland.

The centre back’s international future is up for debate with Tarkowski qualifying for both England and Poland.

He was linked with a call-up for both countries in March and while the 25-year-old admits he wants to play for England, the lure of a World Cup appearance with Poland, a country he qualifies for through his grandfather, could be difficult to resist if the Three Lions don’t come calling.

Lowton and Tarkowski are close friends as well as being regular members of the back four and the former Aston Villa man believes it would be a shame for England to lose out on Tarkowski, who is currently sidelined with a groin injury.

“Until the injury, he had been fantastic for us all season,” Lowton said of the former Brentford defender.

“He’s a young English centre half so it would be tough for us to lose him to somebody else.

“The big thing for Tarky is the World Cup.

“It would be difficult if Poland come and try and tap him up or try and make him go and play for them because everyone wants to play in these tournaments.

“It’s up to us (England) to approach him.”

Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has been a regular at Turf Moor in recent seasons and there has been speculation that Tarkowski could get the call for the March friendlies with Holland and Italy.

If England don’t call for Tarkowski then Poland could, with the Eagles playing friendlies against Nigeria and South Korea in March.

But Lowton is in no doubt that his teammate deserves to follow Jack Cork into Southgate’s squad and replicate the achievement of Michael Keane last season.

“We saw it with Keano last year, he played well week-in week-out in the Premier League, so there’s no reason England shouldn’t at least be looking at him (Tarkowski),” he said.

“We’re a lot higher in the league this season so it shows that not just Tarky but as a group we’re doing a lot better. You saw Corky get his call-up.

“There’s no reason why they shouldn’t be keeping an eye on him (Tarkowski), he’s been fantastic all season.”

Thoughts of international football will be on the backburner this weekend as Burnley look to avoid going 10 Premier League games without a win as they travel to Swansea City.

Although the Clarets haven’t win since December 12, Lowton said the attitude had remained positive, thanks to Turf boss Sean Dyche.

“It’s just what the manager drills into us and over a period of time it becomes ingrained in you,” the 28-year-old said of that approach.

“The last game was good for us but it’s gone now, it’s down to us to work into the next one. It’s a good chance for us to get that win and end that run.

“There’s no point getting too down, if we start concentrating on the run we’re not focusing on the game coming up next. We move on as quickly as we can whether we win or lose.”