CHRIS Eagles believes he can play for England one day – and the in-form winger thinks a call-up could even be possible while playing in the Championship for Burnley.

Eagles has been in outstanding form ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Millwall and was hailed as ‘unplayable’ by Clarets boss Brian Laws after scoring twice in Tuesday’s 4-0 home win against Hull City.

The 24-year-old was restored to the starting line-up at the beginning of the month after agreeing to commit his future to Burnley by signing a new two-year deal, and he believes he is now starting to play some of the best football of his career.

In a frank interview with the Lancashire Telegraph, Eagles admits he has not fulfilled the potential he showed at a young age at Manchester United but is confident he still has time on his side and has revealed that he still has a burning desire to represent his country.

His best chance of gaining an England call-up would seem to be by returning to the top flight with Burnley this season, something Eagles wants desperately, but he believes Fabio Capello may even consider him during the current campaign if he plays well enough.

The last player to play for England while plying his trade in the Championship was Eagles’ friend and former Clarets team-mate David Nugent, who was capped once by Steve McClaren while at Preston in 2007.

“I’m enjoying my football at the moment and I just don’t want it to end,” said Eagles.

“I’m settled and I’m smiling. All the lads know if I’m smiling at training, then I play well.

“I’m 24 now and I’ve got to start being consistent to push on.

“That’s what I want to achieve, to prove to everyone that I can do it.

“I’m still young in terms of football and I just want to keep growing and growing. I don’t want to stop until I play for England.

“There is still a lot more to come from me. That’s what people forget, hopefully I’ve still got 12 years to play yet because I look after myself and I don’t drink. Hopefully I’ll be playing until I’m 40.

“England is one of my dreams. Do I need to be in the Premier League to do that? No, Capello is watching all the time.

“I know that because I’ve got an agent who does his job. He watches all sorts of levels because, if you’ve got an English talent and they are young, you watch them.

“You saw that he gave Wilshere a chance, and he was on loan at Bolton last year.

“But at the moment I just want to concentrate on getting Burnley back up into the top flight.”

Eagles’ goals against Hull, the second of which came from the penalty spot, were his first in the league since a strike at West Ham last November.

The wide man admits he needs to start scoring more consistently and his current determined mindset was illustrated when he shook off an injury sustained against Bristol City to feature against Hull.

“I got the injury five minutes before half time on Saturday and I didn’t think I was going to be able to play on Tuesday,” said Eagles, who joined Burnley in the summer of 2008.

“But I wanted to play and I took painkillers before the game, and it was actually fine because my adrenaline took over.

“With the form that the team and myself are in, I didn’t want to miss the game. My family and my agent were here too. It will be fine for Saturday.

“I was just pleased to get on the scoresheet. I want to get into double figures this season.

“My first season I think I got seven, last year I got three and this year I really want to get into double figures.

“That would definitely help the team and it’s a personal thing as well.

“You look at the best midfielders in the country and the world, and they always get double figures.

“With the amount I create, I believe I should be getting that.”