THE timing of Burnley's trip to the Republic of Ireland couldn't have been more apt for Chris McCann.

The young midfielder has yet to end his wait to earn even his first Under 21 cap, but he is excited by the prospect of the Italian revolution that has taken its first steps into his national side.

Two days before the Clarets' friendly with Dublin-based Bohemian FC on Friday, Giovanni Trapattoni was officially unveiled as the man to succeed Steve Staunton and lead the Republic of Ireland's charge towards the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The Italian's opening gambit was bold.

"We have a chance in the qualifiers," he said. "It is a hard group but I think we can finish in first place."

He will have to get the better of his native country to do that.

But a manager who has managed at club and international level, won 10 league titles in four different countries and lifted the European Cup, Cup Winners Cup, UEFA Cup, Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup can justify such confidence.

Ray Houghton, one of a trio of Football Association of Ireland (FAI) officials responsible for the appointment, revealed that the first thing Trapattoni said to him was I've got to see the players'.

Unfortunately, his intention is to work his way around Premier League clubs.

Nevertheless, McCann is determined to work hard enough to make an impression on the 68-year-old.

"It's a great opportunity for me and other players with a new manager coming in. It's a new start," he said.

"I just have to keep playing well and try to get noticed when it comes to selection."

McCann's Premier League countrymen seem set to take precedence in the early stages of Trapattoni's reign. But although the 20-year-old Dubliner could be forgiven for feeling frustrated by that, he isn't about to demand that the current Red Bull Salzburg boss take a trip to Turf Moor.

"I'll just let him get on with his work and me get on with mine and see where it goes," he said.

"There's a lot of good, young players out there who still haven't been discovered, like in the lower leagues and the Championship.

"Owen Garvan (Ipswich Town midfielder) is another great footballer, I played with him at Home Farm (the renowned Irish schoolboy team) and had a great time there with him.

"Hopefully we can keep improving our game and keep playing well and see where that takes us.

"It's hard to get noticed, especially being in the lower leagues with teams that don't get enough recognition.

"Burnley are a great club but don't get enough recognition.

"They're such a big club but most people just overlook them.

"The only thing we can do as players is keep working really hard and keep trying to establish ourselves in the league and push towards promotion.

"It's the only thing you can do.

"I just have to take it one step at a time. If I get picked all well and good, but if not I'll keep working hard and wait for my chance."

Perhaps such a patient outlook stems from his teenage years, when he was trying to make his dreams of becoming a professional footballer reality.

"It was hard because all my friends had left when they were 15 or 16 to go to English clubs. I was the last one to go and had thought my chance had gone, but I just kept on working hard and hoped that one day it would come good," revealed McCann, who was denied a second call-up to the Republic of Ireland Under 21 squad through injury.

"I was called up for the England game but got injured the weekend before so I had to withdraw. I was a bit hurt really over getting injured again because I really want to play for Ireland.

"It was devastating not to be playing but if I get another chance I'll grab it with both hands when it comes around."

But his first aim is to work his way back into Burnley's starting line-up after missing the last two games with the injury which ruled him out of the Under 21s.

"It was great to go back home and playing in Ireland again," said McCann, who began his recovery from a leg injury by featuring in the friendly with Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Friday night.

"I wanted to play in that stadium since I was a little kid because I used to come to watch Bohemians.

"But it's good to get back home and play in front of my family and friends, and it was nice because my mum's never seen me play for Burnley in the four years that I've been at the club."

Maybe next time Mrs McCann sees her son in action again he'll have an international cap to show for it.