CALLUM Wilson is hopeful of forcing his way into Gareth Southgate's World Cup plans.

The pacy striker is keeping England international Jermain Defoe out of the Cherries side and has hit eight goals in 23 appearances since returning from his second serious knee injury.

And Wilson is keen to catch the eye of Three Lions boss Southgate, the manager who handed the former Coventry City star his England under-21s breakthrough.

Southgate is on Thursday set to name his squad for upcoming friendlies against the Netherlands and Italy. And there will be considerable interest in the boss's frontline selections in the wake of the ankle injury sustained by Tottenham's Harry Kane at Vitality Stadium on Sunday.

Asked if he could make a late run for the World Cup in Russia, Wilson told the Daily Echo: "You always have to hope. First and foremost, you have to focus on your team performances and, hopefully, they are good enough to catch the eye of the international manager.

"It's an honour to represent your country at any level. Every English player has to be looking ahead and trying to aim high, and not just because the World Cup is coming up.

"Some people might say you only want to play for England because of that but for me, I've represented England at a younger age and I'd like to do it again.

"I'm focusing on my club performances and, ultimately, that's what will get me there."

Wilson thought he had netted his ninth goal of the season in the 4-1 defeat to Spurs, only for referee Mike Dean to harshly judge the frontman had fouled Davinson Sanchez in the build up.

"I didn't really have many chances against Tottenham. I had an opportunity to get slid in but the ball didn't come," said Wilson.

"But that's football. You are only as good as the chances you are getting and if you aren't getting chances then it's down to me to make sure I am putting myself in positions to get them. There is more work ahead on the training field.

"The season is going okay and I'm happy with my performances. I'd like to add a bit more in terms of goals and assists but I'm focused on getting minutes on the pitch and putting in good displays week to week.

"I'd like to get into double figures goals-wise as soon as possible. But there are plenty of games to go and I will do that, no doubt.

"I have confidence in my ability. We have some good games coming up against teams around us. It's going to be important to make sure I'm clinical when I get a chance."

Cherries entertain lowly West Brom on Saturday, a side who Eddie Howe's men lost 1-0 to on the opening day of the season after Ahmed Hegazi headed the only goal of the game.

Wilson, who joined Cherries from Coventry in the summer of 2014, has started the Dorset club's past 12 league fixtures.