Blues boss Kieran McKenna believes striker George Hirst will win international honours if he maintains the level of form he has shown, the 25-year-old, who qualifies for Scotland via his grandfather, having scored his first Premier League goal in his first top-flight start last weekend at Brentford.

Hirst, whose father David won three England caps, scoring once, was a key man in the Town side which won promotion from League One having joined on loan from Saturday’s opponents Leicester, then after making that switch permanent that summer played a similarly crucial role in Town making it back into the Premier League.

McKenna was delighted to see Hirst make such a big impression last week against the Bees, assisting Sammie Szmodics for the first goal as well as scoring the second, having missed the early weeks of the season after picking up a knee injury in pre-season.

“Brilliant, and I've said internally as well, with our media, that we need to, as a club, keep taking joy in those things as well because we know the journey so many players have been on. We know the part that they've played in this period for the club,” he said.

“And when you see especially those players coming into a Premier League game and performing as he did, let's not forget where George was whenever he joined the football club, how he's improved over the last couple of years for him now to have started in the Premier League, scored in the Premier League and performed as he did.

“If I was a betting man, I'd say international honours will come if he keeps going as he is. And I think he's another story to be really proud of.

“Of course, it would have meant a lot more to him if his goal had resulted in us getting three points. But I think as we fight for each result, we need to still take pride and enjoyment in the individual journeys along the way.”

McKenna is also pleased to see centre-half Cameron Burgess doing well having come back into the side following Jacob Greaves’s hamstring injury.

“Another story like the George Hirst one that for him and for us we have to take great pride in,” he continued.

“Cameron has worked his way up through the leagues again. We signed him from Accrington Stanley and when I first arrived he didn't play for the first four or five months and wasn't an automatic starter at that point.

“But again, the story is well told, how he's worked, how he's improved, how he's developed himself, what he's given to the group and, of course, like any player, he's disappointed when he doesn't play, but he knew his chance would come and he's done well since he came in. 

“As I've said, the Everton game was as difficult a circumstance as you could possibly get in terms of his travel [back from international duty with Australia in Japan], but I think when you see even the growth in his performance to last weekend at Brentford, it was a big, big positive and I thought he played ever so well, and he looks to continue that form this weekend.”

Photo: Matchday Images

baxterbasics added 16:30 - Nov 1 He should hold out for an England call, he and Delap together will represent.
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Cakeman added 16:32 - Nov 1 Fully agree. George is an excellent player and hopefully he will get plenty of opportunities with us. I think he is the best my striker we have when his back is to goal by holding the ball up and laying it off.
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