HIS manager may be touting him for an international recall but skipper Callum Morris insists he hasn’t given it too much thought.

Instead, the centre back is solely focused on maintaining Dunfermline’s impressive start to the season, with the hope that consistent performances will make Northern Ireland sit up and take notice.

In a week where both Callum Smith and Ryan Williamson were rewarded for their fine form with calls to Scotland’s under-19 and under-21 squads respectively, Morris again missed out as Michael O’Neill selected his pool for next week’s World Cup qualifiers.

The Irish, guaranteed second place in their group and likely to be involved in a play-off to reach Russia, face Germany next Thursday before travelling to Norway but Morris – who has been involved with the squad previously but hasn’t been capped – will have to watch from afar.

Although delighted that Allan Johnston is pressing his case for international selection, he told Press Sport this week that his mind is only on keeping Pars top of the Championship.

“It’s nice to hear things like that but it’s how you play at your club that gets you into these squads,” he said.

“It’s all down to consistency and the main thing is how I do here. If Northern Ireland comes along that would be amazing; they’ve done brilliantly but I can only focus on myself, and I can’t complain at the minute.

“My sole focus is on Dunfermline Athletic and keeping up the great start that we’ve had. If we continue to work hard and be professional in our play consistently then we won’t go far wrong.”

A last-gasp defeat to Morton – where Athletic threw away a two-goal lead – has been the only bump in the road to the summit so far ahead of fancied Dundee United’s visit on Saturday.

Dunfermline will protect a perfect home record that has seen them hit a staggering 24 goals in six games, one of which was bagged by Morris himself in the 3-0 rout of St Mirren.

After defensive partner Lee Ashcroft netted at Brechin, he laughed: “We just need Murdo (Sean Murdoch) to pop up now, but maybe me and Ashy can take alternate weeks!

“But I’m not fussed about the headlines. As a back four we’ve been really solid and it’s a good thing if the press aren’t talking about us because it means the flair players are doing their job and scoring goals.

“There’s a hunger to stay top and a massive desire to prove how good we are. We know what we’ve got in the dressing room and the football that we play, but it’s another thing going out and proving it to people.

“But we’re taking it one game at a time. There was a lot of talk about Man City last season when they won their first 10 games, but they didn’t win the league.

“You can learn lessons everywhere in life and that’s what we have do by looking at the next game. Every point will be massive.”

A huge crowd is expected at East End on Saturday and Morris added: “We’ve got a massive fanbase and they’ve been brilliant. I a lot of games, they have been like a 12th man.

“We’ve got a great facility here, the surface out there is fantastic and we need to utilise that and make East End a fortress. We want to put on a show for the fans.”