And Clarets boss Owen Coyle feels the 21-year-old's involvement on the international stage can only be good for both the player and the club.

Paterson arrived at Turf Moor in a £1m.-plus move from Scunthorpe in the summer, and has netted seven goals in 13 games for Burnley so far.

And, ironically, although the return to fitness of former Burnley forward Kyle Lafferty adds to the competition for places, Paterson is a strong contender to start the World Cup qualifiers in Slovenia on Saturday, and at Windsor Park against San Marino next Wednesday.

The former Stoke City frontman earned his first two caps for his country last season.

He has picked up a further three with the Clarets, starting two of the last three internationals.

Team-mate Michael Duff has had to withdraw from the squad with a side strain suffered in the 3-1 defeat at Reading on Saturday.

But Coyle hopes to see Paterson's confident start to the campaign continue with the Ulstermen.

He said: "Prior to this season he's been in the Northern Ireland squad, but would never have been classed as a first pick.

"But I think he's shown he's in there, pitching to start games, and that augurs well for him and the football club.

"My concentration is on Burnley, but we hope the boys away on international duty do their countries proud, but equally come back injury free."

Coyle has been delighted with the impact of his first permanent signing.

And he added: "He's got seven goals in 13 games, and I think that tells you everything about him, but along with the goals, his work ethic is incredible, and for such a young man he's hungry, even on the training ground.

"He's desperate to improve and do well, and we love everything about him in that respect.

"Ultimately goalscorers are always prize assets, they are the ones people always look to try and get on board, and we brought him in here, not for the sake of losing him quickly, but to help us at the football club, and that's what he's doing, and he'll continue to do that.

"Stevie Thompson has helped him enormously, taking a lot of weight off him in the front area, being a buffer for him, and you can now see the opportunities Martin is getting.

"When he gets in there, his goal against Watford was clinical, a bit of class. Long may that continue."

Chris McCann, whose second goal of the season proved a mere consolation at the Madejski Stadium, also believes the effervescent striker can be a big hit for Northern Ireland: "He's been a revelation since he came here.

"He's banging them in at the minute, and hopefully he can continue that form this month, and who knows where that will take us.

"If he can do it here, he can do it on the international stage as well.
"I know it's a different game altogether playing internationals, but there's nothing to stop him.

"He's got a great work-rate, he's very clinical when he gets near the goals, and I think he could do a job for Northern Ireland."

Duff's injury has ruled him out, however, hurt trying to prevent Stephen Hunt heading in Reading's second goal on Saturday, before being replaced by Chris Eagles just before the hour.

The problem is not expected to keep him out against Championship leaders Birmingham City a week on Saturday, when Stephen Jordan, harshly sent off at Reading in injury-time, will be suspended, but is a blow for the player, who is hoping to re-establish himself in Nigel Worthington's starting line-up.

Meanwhile, Coyle admits he has had no contact with Ipswich Town boss Jim Magilton, who was linked with a move for Alan Mahon over the weekend.

Mahon has played just 17 minutes in the first team this season, and the man hailed by Steve Cotterill on his arrival as "the jewel in our crown" has made only 31 starts since signing for £250,000 from Wigan, initially on loan, in March 2006.

The Republic of Ireland international midfielder played alongside Magilton while on loan at Portman Road five years ago, and owns property in the area, but Coyle said: "Alan Mahon has been in almost every 16 I've played.

"There was interest in one or two players in the last transfer window.

It's not necessarily the case that Alan Mahon was one of them, but there was nothing concrete in any case.

"There are players who aren't playing who want to play. Steve Jones is available for loan and Gabor Kiraly has been told he can leave.

"But there has been no dialogue between myself and Jim Magilton, who I get on very well with.

"I am not getting involved with conjecture, but if anyone made a concrete offer for any of my players, then they would know before anyone else."