The international break has the forward jetsetting across the globe for Canada but Barnsley and his returning game against Crystal Palace will be very much on his mind.

Hume, 24, hopes to play a large part in Canada's two must-win World Cup Qualifiers – the first coming with next Saturday's clash in Honduras.

Four days later the Canadians entertain current group toppers Mexico and two victories are essential to maintain Canada's slim hopes of making South Africa 2010.

Capped more than 20 times by his country, Hume admits he is honoured to represent Canada and deeply hopes they can somehow scramble their way to the World Cup Finals.

However, the striker remains dedicated to the Barnsley cause and plans to return in tip-top shape for a week on Saturday's live Sky date with Crystal Palace.

"It's like if you ask anyone over here playing for England, Scotland or Wales – it's the ultimate playing for your country," said Hume.

"I love pulling on the Canada top – it's where I grew up, it's where I learned how to play and it does mean everything to me.

"But at the same time, I earn my dough over here and I need to make sure I am fit and ready for when I get back.

"When I get back we'll have the game with Crystal Palace, it's on Sky and it's a big game for everyone at the club.

"I want to do well with Canada and want to help them qualify but I make my living over here, my family is over here and I need to make sure I'm in good shape for Barnsley when I get back.

"We have a mountain to climb with Canada as we have three games left and we have to win them all. I'm in the same boat as Jamal Campbell-Ryce at Jamaica – we both have to win all three games.

"It's still out of our hands as Mexico and Honduras have come out of the traps on fire but we've got two games against them and we need to win both.

"I hope I feature in them but really I'd like to be starting both games."

Hume joined Barnsley for £1.2m this summer and instantly got on the scoresheet with a debut goal at Queens Park Rangers.

In stark contrast, a red card followed on his home debut against Coventry but Hume says he already feels totally settled at Oakwell. He only wants one more ingredient to further savour his time there – goals.

"Personally, I've settled in fine," said Hume.

"There is a good group of boys here and a good group of staff and they have all been very welcoming, but I'd just like to score a few more goals.

"I've had the chances but just not been putting them away.

It would have been good to have scored a couple more and that would help me settle in even better.

"I know what I can do and the manager knows what I can do.

"I was brought in for a reason and that was to score goals and he knows the sort of player I am – quite intense with high standards.

"My aim is to start playing a bit better, start scoring some more goals and get up to top form."

Barnsley, too, need to find form fast as at present as each week passes their odds only shorten for relegation.

The Tykes must also progress without Brian Howard but Hume has no doubt Barnsley's squad is strong enough to succeed.

Now he is urging some immediate steps forward, stressing he can imagine nothing worse than a repeat of last year when he was relegated with Leicester City.

"We've got a good squad here with a lot of good people, even though Brian Howard will be sorely missed," said Hume.

"He's a top player but we have got the squad behind that, we've got a good squad of players with a lot of potential.

"We are starting to gel but I've been in this situation before where I had a very good team around me but we never reached our full potential.

"Now is the time that we need to start knuckling down. It's not a nice feeling being in a relegation battle, I've been in one before and I don't want it again and I'm sure the other lads don't want it either."

Hume also backed Howard to prove a big success at Bramall Lane.

"You don't want to lose your best players but he's decided it's time to move on and we have to wish him all the best with that," said Hume.

"He has the talent to push on to dare I say bigger and better things and he has the ability and the personality to succeed in doing that."

Howard will have aspirations of the Premiership but despite the bookies' views, Barnsley have no intentions of sliding in the opposite direction.

Throughout a rough opening period, the Tykes have maintained maximum confidence in a revival of fortunes and Hume is adamant such views will be well-founded.

"It's been a bit of a rocky road but anyone who has seen us will know that we have been pretty good without getting anything like what we deserve,"said Hume.

"Especially the Norwich game. Anyone who saw that will know we were top class in that and the only thing we seem to have been lacking is goals.

"It's moving in the right direction and it will turn around – it's only a matter of time."