Burnley hotshot rules out matching Zaha’s rise to England ranks

The 23-year-old has hit 20 goals in 17 appearances this season to break records as the fastest player to reach the landmark in Burnley’s history and also match the 1958/59 exploits of Clarets legend Ray Pointer by netting in eight consecutive games.

Zaha’s superb form in the second tier was rewarded with an England debut against Sweden last night, as part of a squad containing only two recognised strikers.

Though he’s notched 20 goals quicker than the likes of Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, seeing him linked with moves to Arsenal and Liverpool, Austin insists international recognition is not on the cards.

“Look at the England strikers that are in the Premier League that didn’t get called up,” he said.

“I’m just doing my job for Burnley and scoring goals and if I get rewarded, I get rewarded.

“But there’s a lot of strikers out there a lot higher than me.”

Austin also baulked at being spoken of in the same light as Messi and Ronaldo.

“That’s impossible, they end up with about 70 goals,” he added.

“Messi’s just gone past Pele’s record with 76 goals in a calendar year - I don’t think I’ve got 76 goals in the last three seasons.

“You can’t compare. Those two are the best players in the world by a long way.”