BURNLEY captain Graham Branch believes the arrival of David May will help make him a better player.

Vastly experienced stopper May slotted in alongside Branch at the heart of a rebuilt back line for the first time in last weekend's harsh 4-1 defeat to West Brom.

And the new Clarets skipper reckons the two old heads will go from strength to strength given time to gel.

He said: "David is settling in well. He's a good player and obviously you expect that because he has played for Manchester United.

"He needs a bit more fitness, but he talks a lot, which helps me because I'm new to that position and I'm still learning with every game I play.

"But I enjoyed playing alongside him and I feel we can only improve."

It has been a tough transition period for Branch, who was floating around without a contract in the summer before finally signing a new two-year deal with the Clarets and returning as manager Stan Ternent's chosen leader.

But the former Tranmere and Stockport ace, 31, is confident he has the credentials to skipper the Clarets out of their current choppy waters and into the relative calm of First Division security.

He added: "I feel it's going okay as skipper. It would have been nice to have three wins, but I think we have played really well in all the games and we can only improve.

"It was just stupid mistakes that cost us against Crystal Palace and West Brom and the sooner we sort out those, the sooner we can get off the bottom of the league.

"The scoreline in the West Brom game especially flattered them because, even when they scored, we looked very comfortable.

"I honestly thought we would go on and win it - some of the football we were playing was very, very good.

"So if we can sort out a few problems at the back - silly things like a lack of concentration - then we can start winning games quite comfortably."

Wigan are the visitors to an expectant Turf Moor this weekend as Ternent's men seek to ignite their season with a morale-boosting win.

And Branch believes Lancashire pride can be the catalyst for finally putting some First Division points on the board.

He said: "Wigan are a local side, so there will be a lot of local pride. We need a win and hopefully we will go out with the same attitude we have in the past few games and get it."

BURNLEY defender Mark McGregor has been ruled out out for a month following knee surgery.

McGregor, 26, went under the knife yesterday after suffering the setback in pre-season, shortly before the Clarets trip to the Isle of Man.

And manager Stan Ternent has confirmed the former Wrexham stopper will now be sidelined until at least mid-September.

He said: "Mark had an operation on Tuesday to have his knee cleared out, and I hope he will be back in a month or so."