STRIKER Gareth Taylor has been recalled to the Wales squad after a three year absence -- and he puts it down to joining Burnley.

The big striker, who made Bosman free transfer move to Turf Moor from Manchester City during the summer, has been included in Blackburn Rovers striker Mark Hughes' squad for the World Cup games with Armenia in Cardiff on September 1 and Norway in Oslo on September 5.

After spending three months on loan with the Clarets last season, Taylor is delighted to be at Turf Moor and is certain the move holds the key to his international recall.

"I am surprised, but delighted that I am back in the squad," said Taylor.

"And I definitely put the recall down to my switch to Burnley from Manchester City.

"I needed to get the break into first team football to have a chance and coming to Burnley has given me that.

"And I suppose it does help a little to have the manager just down the road because it will give him more opportunity to catch our games."

Taylor bagged his first goal of the new campaign in the 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Sunday and he enthused about the Clarets' flying start.

"I think we dominated throughout the game but in the first half we didn't manage to take our chances," said Taylor.

"But it was a great team performance from what was a tough away game. We maybe would have settled for a point beforehand, but we really deserved the three points."