Burnley v Bristol Rovers - Tony Dewhurst on the man Clarets will miss

NIGEL Gleghorn took the first step on the road to recovery today and delivered a defiant message to the Turf Moor fans.

The Burnley skipper misses tomorrow's crucial home clash with Bristol Rovers and will be ruled out for at least a month as he starts his return to full fitness.

And Gleghorn, who suffered a medial ligament injury in the 0-0 stalemate at Bournemouth, is determined to get back into the thick of the action as quickly as possible.

"I've heard I could be out for six weeks but my target is to be back in the Burnley first team picture within a month," said a defiant Gleghorn. "I will definitely play for Burnley again this season.

"That is how keen I am to be playing again. I want to be back for the final run-in and, hopefully, Burnley's charge towards promotion.

"We've 14 games left on the fixture list - and we have to win NINE of those if we are going to achieve a play-off spot.

"It is a tough target but I'm convinced we are capable of going out and achieving that goal. Although I will not be playing for a while I will be at all the matches and willing the lads on. "My work with the physio starts today and I've made it my goal to be back in the frame for the final run in. I want to play a big part in trying to get Burnley into the First Division."

It was feared that Burnley could be without their influential skipper for the rest of the season. Yet a scan revealed only minor damage to the knee when it was first feared the problem could necessitate surgery.

"Thankfully I didn't need surgery because that would have probably proved the end of my season," added Gleghorn.

"There is no major damage and that is a great relief. It is very frustrating because this is the first major injury I've had for seven years and it couldn't have come at a worse time for me."

Remarkably, tomorrow's encounter with Bristol Rovers will be the first senior game Gleghorn will have missed since joining the Clarets from Stoke City in the summer.

"I've really enjoyed the challenge of a new club since I've moved to Burnley. It has meant a lot to me captaining Burnley and all the responsibility which goes with it.

"Although we've got some tremendous talent in the squad I think sometimes we need to be a bit more mentally tough and a bit more ruthless. "We've had a horrendous month on the field and it doesn't matter how we get a result tomorrow. We just need a win from somewhere to spark us into life again.

"I can sense a bit of depression among the fans but a victory over Bristol Rovers will start to breed confidence again.

"Our home form has slipped badly and that has cost us. But, if we are string a run of results together, like we did at the tail end of last year, we can still make it.

"My personal target is to play in the First Division again - with Burnley."

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