Burnley defender James Tarkowski has said that he is aiming to earn a place in Gareth Southgate's squad for this summer's World Cup finals.

The England international earned his first Three Lions cap in a 1-1 draw with Italy last week, a mark of the 25-year-old's progression throughout the season.

Last season, Tarkowski made just four Premier League appearances, but the centre-back is now a regular starter under Sean Dyche, a situation that he hopes will continue until the summer.

"That's the way I'd like it to ­finish, but I'm not banking on anything," Tarkowski told The Mirror. "There's a lot of work to be done to build for Burnley and personally for England.

"The most important thing in football is to enjoy yourself and, hopefully, get the rewards from your hard work and dedication. This season has been one that's paid me back a little bit, and it's nice to see the rewards I've been getting, but I don't want to stop here.

"It's been a quick change of fortunes from being on the bench week in, week out, to playing and then getting called up for England. But I'm enjoying it, embracing it, and long may it continue. You want to test yourself at all levels. International level is the highest and then in European football."

Burnley travel to Vicarage Road to face Watford in their next Premier League outing on Saturday.