BURNLEY manager Owen Coyle admits he is baffled by Chris McCann’s exclusion from the Republic of Ireland squads.

The Dubliner has previously represented the Under 17s, 18s and 19s but has yet to progress beyond that - despite a string of outstanding Championship performances - after only being called up to the Under 21s last season.

Although McCann’s initial entry into Don Givens’ U21s squad ended in controversy in November last year, when he opted out after failing to break into the starting eleven at the second attempt for their UEFA European Championship qualifiers against Montenegro and Bulgaria.

At the time Givens suggested he would not pick the youngster again, but the pair patched up their differences and McCann was recalled for the Group Three clash with England U21s in February.

Injury ruled him out on that occasion, but the 21-year-old has been overlooked ever since, even for the recently named B squad to face Nottingham Forest next week, which has been organised as a warm-up for Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad’s World Cup qualifier against Cyprus, while still failing to get a look-in under Givens’ watch.

“The Republic of Ireland must have an unbelievable abundance of quality for Chris McCann not to be involved at any level,” said Coyle, himself a former Ireland international.

“He’s getting better and showing that maturity, and I do believe he’s capable of playing in the Premier League at this moment in time. I believe he’s capable of being involved with the Republic of Ireland.

“As his manager it’s a double-edged sword because we don’t run the risk of him being injured if he’s not away, but from a personal point of view I know he’s desperate to represent his country.

“All I would say to Chris is that he has to continue doing well for Burnley Football Club, and whatever comes on the back of that, then he’ll earn his just rewards.”

That’s a sentiment that a maturing McCann shares.

While a desire to represent his country must burn inside, he is refusing to let it shift his focus from keeping the Clarets in the higher echelons of the Championship, where they now find themselves going into tomorrow’s trip to third placed Reading after accruing 13 points from a possible 15 in September.

“As long as I keep playing well here, things will happen, and hopefully it will be sooner rather than later,” he said.

"I think a B squad's been announced that I'm not in but I'm not going to get too down about it.

"I don't really think about internationals. First and foremost I want to do well here and anything else that follows from that is an added bonus.

"As long as I'm happy playing here nothing else really matters to me.”

He added: "I know myself when I'm playing well, it's just down to me to keep my place and keep working hard and keep doing well for the team.”

And McCann is especially eager to play his part in preserving Burnley’s unbeaten run as the fourth-placed Clarets take on third-placed Reading tomorrow, kicking off what he predicts will be a key month.

"It has all the makings of being a great game. Both of us are bang in form at the minute, and it’s going to be a tough game, but we can go there and give a good account of ourselves and hopefully we'll get the points we need,” he said.

“We've got Birmingham as well and Reading again at the end of the month, so if we can get some points in this we'll be right up there.”