Austria coach Franco Foda has said he is looking at Burnley striker Ashley Barnes, who has an Austrian grandmother and made an under-20s appearance for the country in 2008.
Foda told Austrian news agency APA that assistant coaches Thomas Kristl and Imre Szabics had scouted 28-year-old Barnes, adding that he would be travelling to watch him play at West Ham.
"We are monitoring Ashley Barnes," Foda said. "I will also watch him live in action next week. We'll have the sporting quality, and that will be crucial to make the next steps."
Bath-born Barnes, who has scored four goals in 27 Premier League matches for Burnley this season, could apply for Austrian citizenship.
If he did so, he could line up alongside Premier League players including Marko Arnautovic, Kevin Wimmer and Sebastian Prodl as Austria rebuild after missing out on World Cup qualification.
