JACK Cork is hoping Burnley can be the beneficiaries of the international joy experienced by some Clarets over the past fortnight.

Premier League action resumes today with a clash against West Ham at Turf Moor, but the international break brought success for Iceland winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Burnley’s Irish quartet of Kevin Long, Stephen Ward, Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady.

Gudmundsson scored twice over two games to fire Iceland to the World Cup, while Irish eyes were smiling on the quartet as they won in Wales on Monday night to secure a play-off place in November.

It’s back to club duties today as the Clarets try and build on a flying start to the season which sees them sitting sixth heading into the weekend, and Cork is hoping Burnley can benefit from the international highs.

“They’ll be in an unbelievable mood,” Cork said of Burnley’s successful internationals. “They’ll be so happy with it and very confident and that usually flows straight in to club football.

“Cup runs tend to go hand-in-hand with league form sometimes so hopefully they’ll come back, be positive and take that attitude straight in to the game on Saturday.

“It’s good having a little break but it’s difficult, especially when you’re in good form, because you do feel like you’re getting on a bit of a run and you want to keep going and keep getting results. There are two sides to it.”

Cork was one of the few Clarets not involved in international action over the past fortnight, with Burnley seeing nine senior players jet off to represent their countries.

Sam Vokes came back disappointed, Steven Defour didn’t feature for Belgium and Scott Arfield’s Canada suffered a friendly defeat to El Salvador, while Chris Wood scored for New Zealand against Japan.

It’s a far cry from Cork’s first spell at Turf Moor, a loan move covering the end of the 2009/10 campaign and the whole of the following season, when Andre Bikey’s international adventures with Cameroon were the only international story in town in a World Cup year.

“It’s really good,” the 28-year-old said. “It was disappointing for Vokesy but the four Irish lads have done brilliantly and Johann contributed a lot to Iceland going through as well.

“I’m sure they’ll be delighted and they’ll come back really positive. Ireland have still got the play-off game to play but it’s an amazing achievement for them. Hopefully they’ll come back in a good way and be ready for the next game.

“I remember the last time that I was here, Andre Bikey was going away to a World Cup with Cameroon and I couldn’t believe it. Now there are potentially five or six players that are going there and it just shows how much the club has progressed.

“It’s improving and getting that quality of players in. It just seems normal now - it’s been really quiet at the training ground, it’s been a strange atmosphere, it’s been a week with half a squad trying to do exercises to keep us fit and going.”