But despite being helpless to prevent Northern Ireland going down to a 2-0 defeat against Slovenia, the Clarets' £1m. man firmly believes being on international duty is improving him as a player.

The 21-year-old, with seven goals to his name for Burnley since his summer move from Scunthorpe, started the World Cup qualifying opener against Slovakia, where he played on the left flank.

However, he was on the bench for the home draw with the Czech Republic, picking up his fifth cap as a 72nd-minute substitute for Warren Feeney.

The former Stoke forward was unused in Maribor on Saturday, with the Ulstermen's first choice frontline of David Healy and Kyle Lafferty restored.

He knows he has an almighty task to displace either in Nigel Worthington's starting line-up, with Healy fresh from his exploits in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2008, when his 13 goals broke Davor Suker's record, and former Claret Lafferty fit again as he looks to establish himself at Rangers.

But he admits he is learning all the time from Sunderland striker Healy, who has a record 34 goals in 68 games for his country – indeed, only Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker, Jimmy Greaves and Michael Owen have scored more international goals for the home nations.

Paterson is a huge fan of the former Preston hitman, and said: "Obviously I had seen what he had done for the country before I joined up with the squad for the first time, and when I meet up with the squad now, I just watch what he does in training and how, when he gets a yard, he sticks the ball in the corner.

"When I go back to my club, I just try to do the same things he does, and if you get halfway there, then you'll be okay.

"I came in thinking he was a great finisher, and what I've seen has just confirmed that.

"He is a poacher and a goalscorer, and I hope I'm the same.

"We are a bit different as players, but we both want to score goals.

"Whether he's in the box, or outside the box, he looks to get a shot away, and more often than not it finds the target.

"He is so positive and that is something I have taken from him, and there is no doubt he has made me a better player in the short space of time I've been playing for Northern Ireland."

While studying Healy's approach to scoring goals, Paterson has also acknowledged the work his manager at Burnley is putting in to help him improve.

Owen Coyle also earned international honours in a goal-laden career, picking up one cap for the Republic of Ireland against Holland in 1994, and the modest Paterson outlined after his superb 20-yarder against Blackpool last month: "I don't make no bones about it, there's a lot of improvement in me.

"I think the gaffer realises that, and he works on me and gets after me.
"At the moment I think I'm doing reasonably well, but I think there's a better player in the outcome.

"At the end of the season I think I'll be a lot better player than I was at the start, and I think that's down to hard work and games.

"If I can just click a few bits of my game together and keep on improving, I think things will pick up.

"When the gaffer's a forward and you do shooting after training, it can only benefit you."

Paterson was not the only Burnley player on international duty, but Graham Alexander and Besart Berisha, currently on loan in Norway with Rosenborg, also endured frustrating afternoons.

Alexander was on the bench as Scotland were held to a goal-less draw by Norway at Hampden Park, while Berisha was also an unused substitute as Albania lost 2-0 to Hungary in Budapest.

Scotland are without a game tomorrow night, but Paterson will again be with Northern Ireland at Windsor Park to take on San Marino, while Albania are in Braga to face Portugal.

Meanwhile, young forward Alex MacDonald links up with Scotland Under 19s this week.

The 18-year-old is part of Billy Stark's 18-strong squad for the European Championship Qualifying Round tournament in Hungary, which starts on Thursday.

Scotland play three games, against Azerbaijan on Monday, San Marino next Wednesday, and Hungary on Saturday the 25th.

It means MacDonald, who has yet to make an appearance for the first team so far this season, will miss the Championship games against Birmingham City, Coventry City and Charlton Athletic.