On a wing and a prayer

KEITH TREACY has turned into a leaner, meaner firing machine since joining Burnley in the summer.

Blessed with a magical left foot, the winger has shown signs of being just as brutal with his right.

There is still some work for the winger to do to fulfil his potential though.

And until he can establish himself regularly in manager Eddie Howe’s first team plans, he is going to struggle to return to the Republic of Ireland frame.

Treacy did not make the cut for Giovanni Trapattoni in their last two Euro 2012 qualifiers against Andorra and Armenia, or the play-off games against Estonia.

That does not automatically mean he will not come into consideration for next summer’s tournament. But he will have to show some consistency in selection and performance at club level to stand a real chance.

Treacy could not have wished for a better start to Turf Moor life as he came off the bench to score in a 2-2 home draw with Watford, just days after signing from rivals Preston North End.

However, he struggled to live up to those early expectations.

A screamer against Peterborough United proved to be nothing more than a consolation in the end — but it served as a reminder that Treacy was capable of creating something out of nothing; a factor that had been key in Howe chasing his signature in the summer.

So far, those instances have been few and far between.

Ironically, the first two international breaks did Treacy no favours.

Hours after celebrating a goal on his Burnley debut he was making his way to Dublin for the home game with Croatia, when he came on as an 83rd minute substitute for Damien Duff.

That was the last time he represented his country.

Spending the best part of two weeks away from Burnley’s Gawthorpe training ground in September, without pulling on the green shirt, was a big setback to his fitness and, subsequently, form.

He has benefited from being left out since.

Having missed part of pre-season with Preston, a lack of match action while away on international duty had begun to take its toll.

After joining Burnley he had tried to play with a hamstring niggle, which eventually needed rest.

Treacy had begun to look sluggish and overweight.

After a spell on the bench he was recalled to the line-up for Burnley’s game at Coventry, but was brought off before half-time.

The last international break was put to good use to work on his fitness.

“I think fitness is the most important aspect to a player. If you’re not fit you know it,” said Howe.

“You know you can’t produce your best, you know you can’t run your opponent into the ground. He’s very much one of those players who will continually grind his fullback down. Once he gets his fitness he will perform.

“With that and the ability together he’ll prove a real handful. I hope he’s going to be a massive player for us this season.’’

Treacy has started to get into shape, and there has been an obvious corolation between that and improved performances. Before Saturday’s visit of Portsmouth, he started five games in-a-row, with Burnley winning the last three.

With winger Ross Wallace restored to the side and the return of fit-again strikers Martin Paterson and Charlie Austin, who were named on the bench, there was no place for Treacy in the squad let alone the team, as the Clarets suffered a late defeat to Pompey.

But if he can push ahead of Junior Stanislas in the pecking order, his hard work should continue to pay off for club and country.