Wales manager Chris Coleman has backed Sam Vokes to make his mark on the Barclays Premier League next year if Burnley win promotion.
The 26-year-old striker has scored 10 times in his past 14 fixtures for the Clarets, who are top of the Sky Bet Championship with only eight games to go.
Last season, when Burnley were playing in the Premier League, Vokes missed the majority of the campaign having torn his cruciate ligament, and his only goal of the season came in an FA Cup tie with Tottenham.
However, his international manager is confident that he can have an impact at that level should Burnley clinch promotion over the coming weeks.
"I think he's good enough to play in the Premier League," said Coleman, who started Vokes against Northern Ireland on Thursday.
"He's a different type if you think of Premier League strikers, there's not many like Sam.
"We're not really a 4-4-2 team that gets wide and crosses. We need to cross a bit more, especially when he's playing because he likes attacking a cross. We normally build up play and slide passes.
"If we play to his strengths when he's on the pitch a little bit more in the last third, throw the ball into the box and trust him, he'll get on the end of a lot of crosses. He's very strong, very powerful, has good timing and when he's at his best and his fittest he's a handful for any centre-back.
"For Sam, he missed that season with his knee injury in the Premier League. I think he sees it now as wanting to make up for that season. Burnley have a great chance of being promoted and if they do I don't see Sam being a third-or-fourth-choice striker.
"I wouldn't for one minute tell (Burnley manager) Sean Dyche how to do his job, he's doing a great job there. But Sam Vokes on his day can cope in the Premier League."
Source: PA
