CLARETS winger Wade Elliott is urging his team-mates to stay positive as they look to try and get back into the Championship's play-off places.

Steve Cotterill's side have dropped down the table to 12th place after just one win in their last 10 games.

But after re-capturing Ade Akinbiyi - on a deal that could rise to a fee of £1.125m - when the January transfer window opened on New Year's Day, Elliott says the squad is confident they can put themselves back in the mix for the end of season finale.

He said: "I think from a team's point of view, everyone was disappointed that we dropped out of the top six.

"I know it's tight and there are only a few points in it. We won't be looking at the teams below us and thinking we have got to get results to keep away from them though.

"We'll carry on looking at the teams above us and think let's go and see if we can catch those.' "We've worked hard and, with the squad we've put together, we are still confident that we can be a match for anyone. There is a quiet determination and a quiet confidence amongst the lads so hopefully we'll just keep carrying on in the same manner.

"Everything we did last year was in a positive manner. So we need to carry on in the same vein that has served us so well so far."

Despite re-signing Akinbiyi from Sheffield United, the Clarets still have the smallest squads in the Championship.

But Elliott says it's a situation the Clarets players have come to accept.

He said: "That's always something we have had to deal with - competing against clubs with more resources. This year there is probably more than most in our division but we are always battling against that."

On his own form, the Clarets number 11 added: "There's always things you look at and say you could improve on, but I'm happy with how it's gone so far this season. Hopefully this will give me a good base to build on in the new year."

Meanwhile, Reading defender Ibrahima Sonko has been ruled out the FA Cup, third round clash against Burnley on Saturday.

The Senegal international hurt his hip in the New Year's Day massacre of West Ham and will sit out the visit of the Clarets to the Madejski Stadium.