Burnley defender Dara O’Shea is eager to make the most of his opportunities after a tough start to life at Turf Moor.

O’Shea joined the Clarets from West Brom over the summer and has made 11 appearances so far this season.

Vincent Kompany’s side find themselves at the foot of the Premier League table, having won just one of their opening 12 fixtures.

O’Shea had a spell out of the side but has started the last five matches, partnering Jordan Beyer in defence for the 3-1 defeat at Arsenal last weekend.

The 24-year-old admits it is not easy having to watch from the sidelines and is determined to nail down a place in the side.

“When you are injured you can kind of accept it as you can’t possibly play, but when you are fit and ready and trying to do everything on the training pitch and you don’t get selected, it is a tough one to take,” he said.

“Seeing the boys go out there and you have worked hard all week to try and get into that position, it is hard, but it pushes you on.

“There will always be that opportunity again, you have to be there to take it.”

O’Shea added: “There wasn’t much words said to me, to be honest. I don’t know why that was, I think that’s just the way (Kompany) does things.

“I had to get my head around that and work hard, put myself back in the frame, which I have done, playing consistently for the last few games and I am really enjoying it.”

The defender is currently away on international duty with the Republic of Ireland and could be involved against the Netherlands on Saturday night.

“We know that we cannot qualify but it is an international game, a competitive game against a great side away, and we know we want to do something special as a group,” he explained.

“If that’s all we can do right now, that’s what we want to do – to beat the Netherlands away.

“We have ambitions and aims to do well for the country, but also for (manager Stephen Kenny) – the group loves him. I think we really deserve something like that and he does as well.

O’Shea added: “There is no reason why we can’t (win). That’s our identity and it has been throughout this campaign – it doesn’t matter if you are home or away, you have to try and make an impact, silence the crowd and that is a great way to do it.”