ANDRE Bikey hopes consistency will be the key to unlocking his World Cup dream.

The Cameroon international is relishing the prospect of being Burnley’s first representative at the tournament since Billy Hamilton and Tommy Cassidy were picked for Northern Ireland in 1982.

But, with the draw for South Africa 2010 taking place tomorrow, the 24-year-old knows he has his work cut out if he is to earn a place in the Indomitable Lions’ line-up this summer.

Bikey has not featured in any of Paul Le Guen’s four games in charge so far. The former Reading defender was an unused substitute for the Frenchman’s first two fixtures but was not included in the 18-man squad for the final two qualifiers against Morocco and Togo.

However, with next month’s African Cup of Nations in Angola fast approaching, Bikey is hoping to do enough between now and the summer to work his way into Le Guen’s plans.

And he knows performing for Burnley is of paramount importance if he is to achieve his international ambitions.

“I hope to play in the World Cup and would love to take part,” he said.

“I am playing every game in Burnley so hopefully the national manager can see me performing.

“But at the moment I am concentrating on Burnley, it is not time to think about the national team.”

And Bikey’s main focus is on ending the Clarets’ run without an away win on Saturday, when they take on rock bottom Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

He said: “There is still a long way to go and nobody in the dressing room is talking about it. We have two home games after Portsmouth and if we win them we will probably be in the top 10.”

With captain Steven Caldwell suspended following his late red card in the 5-3 defeat to West Ham, Bikey is likely to resume a central defensive partnership with Clarke Carlisle, which he took up on arrival from Reading in the last transfer window.

But he admitted he was growing into the defensive midfield role he was given, alongside Graham Alexander, when Caldwell returned from injury in October.

“I have the played position before. It has been a long time so I need time to adapt to it, but it has been enjoyable so far.

“I feel I can play anywhere if I get time to adapt to it.”