"It is always going to be difficult for me to play in a World Cup finals with Wales - and obviously I won't be there this summer," he said today.
"As a result the highest stage I can play on is Champions League football at the moment.
"That would be amazing for me as I would be playing against the best players in the world on a regular basis, and it's important to test myself against the best.
"And it is frustrating when so many of my Newcastle team-mates are going to the World Cup and I will be staying at home.
"Darius Vassell became a hero overnight after scoring for England against Holland lately, but when I scored against Argentina in my last game, it didn't really get spoken about outside Wales."