Burton Albion midfielder Matty Lund has challenged his Northern Ireland team-mates to qualify for next summer's World Cup in Russia, and has lifted the lid on his injury troubles that have kept him out of the national picture.

Lund is currently away on international duty with his national side despite missing his club side's last two matches after being stretchered off with an ankle injury in the 2-1 win over Birmingham City earlier this month.

Brewers boss Nigel Clough has said since that it wasn't as serious as first thought, and he is battling to shake it off ahead of Northern Ireland's match against minnows San Marino on Friday night (7:45pm).

Lund is part of a three-man Northern Ireland contingent at the Brewers - alongside defender Tom Flanagan and striker Liam Boyce - vying for a spot in their national side's final 23-man squad for the World Cup.

Matty Lund goes for goal for Burton Albion

Lund has made three appearances for his national side so far, with the last of those coming in the 1-0 win against New Zealand in June, and he is hoping a regular role in a Championship side can help him earn more caps.

Aside from his national escapades, the 26-year-old also finds himself battling for the role of Albion's main-man in midfield following Wednesday's departure of Jackson Irvine to Hull City, and he is hoping that making the step up to Championship level, and playing regular games, will help cement a regular spot in Michael O'Neil's side.

Northern Ireland's Euro 2016 campaign last summer will go down in history as one of the greatest in their nation's history - but Lund wasn't there as he was recovering from an injury sustained during his time at Rochdale.

And the former Stoke City man, who wasn't given a sniff at the Potteries and was farmed out on loan for most of his career there, is relishing a chance to secure World Cup football for his country, as well as for himself.

"The aim is to get to the World Cup," Lund told The Sun.

"It would be a great chance for me to prove people wrong.

"When you are playing at a lower level, people write you off. It was tough.

"I went on a few loans and you realise how hard it is to play football down the leagues."

Lund also revealed how difficult it was for him to hold down a regular spot in the national side due to various injuries, and offered an insight into just how disruptive they were.

"I loved my time at Rochdale, though it was stop-start for me," Lund added.

"I had a dislocated shoulder as well as two knee operations in four years, but the club went through the best period in their history and won promotion.

"Hopefully, all those injuries are behind me.

Matty Lund in action for Burton Albion
Matty Lund in action for Burton Albion

"It's taken me time to get to the Championship and also play for my country, but I'm happy it's all coming together.

With those injuries now firmly behind him, Lund has got off to a fairly impressive start all things considered, notching his first goal for his club in Albion's 3-2 Carabao Cup success over Oldham Athletic, with the subsequent win in the next round over Cardiff City landing them a money-spinning third-round tie against Manchester United later in September.

Four starts out of four games in the league show that Clough has been impressed by what he's seen from Lund, and it will be interesting to see whether O'Neill reckons he is good enough - and fit enough - to start either Friday night's San Marino clash, or Monday night's match at Windsor Park against the Czech Republic.

But his mind is focused on making up for lost time with his national side, with Northern Ireland currently sitting second, with 13 points from six games, and just four points clear of Monday night's opponents Czech Republic.

Matty Lund of Burton Albion
Matty Lund of Burton Albion

"I watched the Euros on holiday with my family in Portugal as I was recovering from injury," Lund continued.

"It was fantastic to see how well they did but we want to go one step further this time and qualify for the World Cup in Russia.

"With Germany in the group, second place is more realistic and we have a great chance of the play-offs. To do that would be unbelievable.

"We want to take three points in San Marino, we'll take any kind of win to set up a big night at Windsor Park against the Czechs.

"There's a hunger in the squad, but there's a lot of quality.

"We've a lot of Premier League and Championship players and they are all used to dealing with the pressure.

"People might be surprised about where we are in the table - but they shouldn't be.