FROM Stalybridge to the Stadio Carlo Castellani – it’s already been quite a season for Jay Rodriguez.

Back in August, the only thing on the 21-year-old’s mind was establishing himself in the Clarets’ first team, never mind featuring in Stuart Pearce’s plans.

But fast forward six months, and there’s a dramatically different outlook for the Burnley-born striker.

“It’s unbelievable, I’m still a little bit shocked, but it was a great experience for me and hopefully it can carry on,” said Rodriguez on his return from an impressive England Under 21 debut against Italy.

“It’s pretty mad if you look back. I was playing in the reserves at Stalybridge Celtic against Oldham at the start of the season.”

At the time he spoke of his need to be patient, to keep working hard and taking every opportunity to make an impression on then manager Brian Laws.

Goals against Oldham Reserves, in a 6-0 win, and a double in a 3-1 win over an Accrington Stanley second string helped his cause. Then, after coming off the bench to score the winner against Preston North End, opportunity knocked when injury forced Ross Wallace out of the side in September, and he hasn’t looked back.

“It’s a long way to come, but hopefully it carries on and I can keep improving myself,” continued Rodriguez, who came on for the final half-hour of England’s 1-0 defeat in Empoli.

“I just try and work hard every time I go out training or play, try and make myself better. You’ve just got to be patient and try and keep improving yourself, and hopefully you get some sort of reward in the end.”

The seven-goal striker’s patience and persistence was this week rewarded with his first ever international call-up and a whirlwind week with U21s regular Jack Cork and co. But he admitted it was a pleasant surprise to take part in the friendly after not being able to take part in training after fog forced their flight from Luton to be re-directed three miles away from their base.

“I never got to train with the squad due to fog, as we had to fly further out and then had a three-hour coach journey to the hotel where we were staying, but it was still good to meet all the lads and the staff, and obviously to get on in the game was brilliant,” said Rodriguez.

“With not having a training session I thought it might be a bit difficult. But when the manager said I was going on, I was chuffed to bits. I just wanted to get out there.

“I was a little bit nervous. I put the shirt on and couldn’t really believe I was doing it.”

But words of wisdom from his dad, Kiko, helped him settle into his own rhythm.

“I focused on doing well and trying to take it all in and enjoy it,” he said.

“My dad had said not to try and do too much, try too hard, just try and play your normal game, and that’s all you can do.

“That’s what he’s always told me.

“But I was pleased with how it went, obviously we got beat 1-0, but I don’t think we deserved to. I think we played better than Italy.

“I would just have liked a goal, but I’d always like a goal!” he smiled. In fact, he hasn’t stopped smiling since his Three Lions bow. But he knows it’s business as usual tomorrow.

Yet while Rodriguez hasn’t stopped smiling since his Three Lions bow, he knows it’s business as usual tomorrow.

Fresh from his impressive run-out on Tuesday, the former Barrowford Celtic youngster is back on the bus as the Clarets set off for the first of four consecutive away games, starting with Watford.

And after clinching a massive win over high flying Norwich City last weekend, he’s ready to pick up where he left off.

“I’m focused on the game tomorrow and getting three points,” he said.

“We should go into the game confident like we always do and play like we know we can play.”

As well as helping Burnley make progress in the Championship, there is the added incentive for Rodriguez of putting himself in the frame for two more Under 21s friendlies next month, starting with a trip to Denmark on March 24 before hosting Iceland at Deepdale four days later.

“The experience was massive for me, it was nice to be a part of it,” said Rodriguez.

“It would be great to play again, especially at Preston. Fingers crossed, hopefully it will happen again for me.”