After all, players of Premiership quality are renowned for sitting out the early stages of the Carling Cup, in which the Clarets host Wolves in the second round tie.

While Hyde no longer operates in the top division, Burnley boss Steve Cotterill is in no doubt that it's where his pedigree belongs after his storming start to the season.

It was rudely interrupted by a sending off in the 2-1 defeat to Gillingham, meaning the former Watford man has yet to grace the first team in September.

While Cotterill is hardly in any position to think about resting star players the way a Premiership manager -- or even tonight's opposite number Dave Jones -- can, Hyde walking back into the side isn't a foregone conclusion.

"We've done well without him so it's a good little challenge for him to come in now," said Cotterill.

"He's got the ability to play in the Premiership now but he's just got to make sure he produces that all the time.

"Just before he got sent off he went slightly off the boil a little bit.

"He's got to be combative. If he's not getting around the park and he's not getting tackles in then you don't see Micah Hyde the player.

"If he goes out and starts thinking he can make 50 or 60 yard passes, they don't come off for him.

"He has to be combative before he start to play. If you see Micah Hyde in the first 20 minutes of games closing people down and getting in people's faces he will definitely go and have a good game."

Cotterill, although keeping tonight's team sheet under wraps for now, has revealed he will have at least one forced change to make for the tie, making Hyde's comeback a stronger possibility.

But perhaps more important than cup progress is making sure the players emerge unscathed from another game in the current gruelling schedule.

Cotterill added: "Instead of thinking about Wolves and the Carling Cup, I'm thinking about our players and how they feel.

"Are they ready for another game so quickly after a Tuesday- Saturday with another Tuesday-Saturday coming up?

"We have to carry on ploughing through this busy period and Wolves have a squad that can cope with the rigours of that.

"I'd rather have a proper break from the league, rather than have a break and play a game but we have to look at making changes."