CLARETS captain Chris McCann hopes the international door will stay open to him, despite a fall-out with the Republic of Ireland Under 21s.

It is almost four years since the Dubliner walked out on then manager Don Givens’ squad after failing to make the starting line-up in the second game of his first call-up.

Midfielder McCann, then 20, objected to being named on the bench to face Bulgaria at home after playing no part in their previous game in Montenegro and refused to take his place as substitute.

Although he eventually patched up his differences with Givens, he was never named in an Under 21s squad again.

But, now 24, with the added responsibility of being Burnley's skipper and a World Cup on the horizon, McCann is keen to prove his international credentials.

“It’s got to be an aim of mine, me pushing on," said the former Home Farm player, who admitted his situation with the Under 21s still rankles.

“It would do with the way it ended last time.

"Hopefully I can put that behind me.

“I want to play in the international side.

“There’s a World Cup coming up as well, it would be nice to be involved in stuff like that. “I don’t think you want to go out of your career without playing international football."

McCann was widely expected to become Burnley’s first Republic of Ireland international after being fast-tracked from the youth team to establish himself as a first team regular in 2005/06.

Instead that honour fell to summer signing Keith Treacy. But McCann hopes that his team-mate's involvement within the Eire set-up will have a positive knock-on effect for him.

“I think I played with him when we were with Ireland Under 21s,” he said.

“We were in the same squad.

“He’s an Irish international now. Hopefully that will bring a bit more attention to this club!

“Obviously he’ll bring a bit more attention from the Irish international scene.

"I look forward to hopefully playing well and force my way into the Republic of Ireland manager’s plans."