Burnley boss Sean Dyche was not surprised by Danny Ings' England exclusion but believes that the striker will graduate to the senior squad in the future.
The England under-21 international scored five goals in seven games in January and early February and despite drawing a blank in his last four, there was talk of the 22-year-old being promoted to Roy Hodgson's squad for England's Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania and the friendly in Italy in late March.
The call-up did not materialise as Ings was named in England's under-21 squad by Gareth Southgate for games against Czech Republic and Germany.
INTERNATIONALS: @IngsDanny and Michael Keane have both been called up for the @england U21s: http://t.co/7vRidT5dIR pic.twitter.com/S6Py7ZSG3L
- Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) March 19, 2015
But Dyche believes Ings, who is out of contract this summer and has been linked with both Liverpool and Manchester United, has the talent to step up.
"I don't think I am surprised," he said. "I'd like to think he is in their thoughts but there are lots of other players out there who are doing well -- the main one being Harry Kane.
"But I would certainly promote them continuing to monitor him because he has a freshness to the way he plays and is different to a number of centre-forwards who would be considered.
"He is definitely learning and that is a big thing when you are a young player. There are no guarantees, that is for Roy and his staff to decide on, but as long as he keeps progressing he will always be in their thinking."
Burnley did have another striker called up for national team action after Sam Vokes was selected by Wales after his first Premier League start in last weekend's surprise victory over Manchester City.
The 25-year-old is back in Chris Coleman's squad for the first time in more than a year after recovering from a serious knee injury which delayed his Clarets' top-flight debut until after Christmas.
"It is great to get a call up again. It has been a long road back and to get 85 minutes under my belt last weekend was another stepping stone," said Vokes.
Of Ings' England prospects, his Burnley teammate added: "He is at a stage now when he is definitely pushing. He is good enough to be in at that level and over the next few years I think he will prove that.
"He brings something different to what they have now. You have seen with his goals this year he can definitely finish."
The victory over City gave a real shot in the arm to Burnley's survival hopes, putting them just a point behind 17th-placed Sunderland -- who have sacked Gus Poyet and brought in Dick Advocaat on a short-term deal.
Dyche insists they have put the City win behind them and are not considering the effect the Black Cats' managerial change will have on the relegation battle.
"The one thing I have learned is there is no guarantee," added the Clarets boss. "It was a good performance, we edged it and did enough to get a win on the day and we are going to have to do it again.
"We are aware of the league but we are not totally staring at it and that is the same for what is outside of us. Different clubs make different decisions for all different reasons but we are focused on what we are doing here."