DEAN Kiely has backed the international aspirations of Albion team-mates Simon Cox and Scott Carson.

Cox has this month stated his ambition to represent Ireland, qualifying through his Galway-born grandmother, Mary Langan.

And former Republic goalkeeper Kiely revealed he has been contacted by the FIA about the Baggies striker, who has fired seven goals in as many games.

"Coxy is a very neat and tidy footballer," he said.

"I have had people from the FAI ring me so I can confirm what he had said in papers.

"Of late he has been in really good form, his confidence has been high and he has been good.

"On the training ground he's not a 'crash, bang wallop' footballer who just feeds off bits and hopes something comes off his knee.

"He is a gifted footballer and it would certainly be a nice progression for him."

And the 39-year-old stopper admits he can see why the £1.9million signing from Swindon is being likened to his former Baggies team-mate Kevin Phillips.

"You can probably see a similarity in terms of their predatory instincts and the way he works in and around the box," he added.

"He is neat and tidy with his touch and with his back to goal so I can see that, and probably their physical stature helps that analogy.

"I'm sure he would love to do half of what Kevin Phillips has done but he is still making his way and he's another young lad who is doing well at the moment."

Kiely, who has added the goalkeeping coaching duties to his role at The Hawthorns this season, also believes Carson can force his way back into the England squad for next summer's World Cup.

"The feedback from Scott suggests he is very comfortable in the environment I have created, I ask his opinion and I try to put on things that he enjoys," he said.

"It's not all about me being a dictator.

"Scott said the other week he felt he was playing the most consistent and dependable football of his career in terms of what he was achieving - and he said I was an ingredient in that, which made me very pleased.

"I certainly can see Scott pushing himself into England's plans.

"I don't think anyone in that clutch of goalkeepers has really burst on and made that shirt their own.

"A lot of people are mentioned and Scott should certainly be one of them.

"I take the point he is playing in the Championship and not in the Premier League but Mr Capello said he was looking for people playing week in, week out for their club.

"Scotty is doing that and has played to a high standard, barring the sending-off.

"I am obviously biased but the thing I know about is goalkeeping and there's not one goalkeeper who has ticked all the boxes yet.

"They have ticked a few but they haven't ticked all of them.

"That for me puts Scott right in the mix."