SAM Vokes says competition at both domestic and international level is helping him to focus on staying on top of his game.

The Burnley striker has teamed up with Wales for tomorrow night’s crucial UEFA Nations League group game with Denmark buoyant on the back of a hard-earned point for Burnley at Leicester City.

Vokes has been leading the line for the Clarets in recent weeks as both a lone striker, keeping the likes of Chris Wood, Matej Vydra and Ashley Barnes out of the line-up, and also as part of a front two.

After back-to-back Premier League goals for Burnley, in the win at Cardiff and home draw with Huddersfield, the striker scored on his last international outing - a 4-1 defeat in their home friendly with Spain last month.

And having recently hit his 29th birthday, he admits the next generation of Wales internationals - including Liverpool’s Harry Wilson, who is impressing on loan at Derby, Bournemouth’s David Brooks and 18-year-old Chelsea midfielder Ethan Ampadu - as well as the competition within the Clarets camp, is keeping him on his toes.

“I’ve been around Wales for a long time now and been part of some good squads there. I think it is sort of a bit of a transition there at the minute where the young lads are coming through,” said Vokes.

“I feel like one of the old boys there. But it’s great really, it’s competition for everyone and can only make us stronger.

“They’re a great group of lads and have experience at the top level themselves at the minute.

“They’ve got that experience and it’s good to have them in the squad.”

Vokes has been on the bench for Wales’ Nations League qualifiers against the Republic of Ireland, both of which they won, and the 2-0 defeat in Denmark in September.

But he is hoping to be involved for new boss Ryan Giggs in the re-match with the Danes tomorrow night, in their efforts to stay top of the group.

“It’s a big game for us,” he said.

“For the manager it’s the first competitive group to be involved in so to top that against two top sides in Ireland and Denmark would be great, and it’s a chance for us to do that against Denmark.

“I think the performances have definitely been there, maybe apart from Denmark away, but it’s been a good campaign - one we’re building on for the next group stage as well.

“It’s a good group of lads coming through which showed in the performance against Ireland, especially last time. It was a great win out there and it would be good to build on that against Denmark and win the group.”