FORMER Blackburn Rovers striker Peter Thorne admits he is desperate to face Burnley tomorrow after insisting: 'We owe you one!'

In-form Thorne played in the 1-0 defeat at Turf Moor earlier this season - a team performance he describes as the worst since he signed for City over two years ago.

The injured hitman is now battling to be fit for the return meeting after picking up a dead leg in the FA Cup replay at Ewood Park in midweek.

Thorne admitted: "I'm desperate to play because I feel we owe Burnley one.

"The defeat at Turf Moor in September was probably the worst game I've played in since joining Cardiff two-and-a-half years ago.

"Burnley had a great cup result in midweek and they will be on a high, but we can't played that badly again and I feel we are much better than them. Now we have to go out and prove it."

Despite struggling just two points above the Championship drop zone, City are unbeaten in their last five league games.

And with four goals in his last three games, Thorne is keen to add to that tally before the Bluebirds knock off for a 14-day break after being knocked out of the Cup at Blackburn.

The ex-Stoke City hitman admitted: "This is a massive game for us. We've no game for two weeks after this, so we really need to be making home advantage count and picking up all three points.

"Despite our unbeaten run, we are still only two points away from the bottom three, but if we can draw confidence from our little unbeaten run and take that into the Burnley game we will be fine."