Duff raring to go

Defender set to feature for reserves as he eyes return to first team

Last updated: 7th September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Duff raring to go

Duff: Raring to go

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Burnley defender Michael Duff is fit and raring to go as he eyes a return to the first team.

The 31-year-old has been sidelined since suffering a calf strain in the opening day win against Nottingham Forest.

But Duff, who signed a new two-year deal in May, is set to feature for Burnley's reserves on Tuesday against Accrington Stanley as he steps up his comeback.

And the defender hopes to impress boss Brian Laws enough to win a place in the squad to take on Preston on Saturday.

Disappointing

Duff told the club's official website: "I will look forward to it.

"Having done a whole pre-season and then missing out so early was disappointing so I am raring to go again now.

"It's up to me to work hard and wait for my chance."

Meanwhile, top scorer Chris Iwelumo is also on the comeback trail after suffering a hamstring injury in Burnley's defeat at Swansea City 10 days ago.

He was forced to pull out of Scotland's squad for their Euro 2012 qualifiers but has been working hard on his rehabilitation, training at 80 per cent capacity

While he is still waiting for the results of a scan to give him the full all-clear, he hopes to be fit to play on Saturday.

Stretched

The pair's impending comebacks are good news for Laws, who believes his squad will be tested to the limit during the course of the next month.

The Clarets have a hectic spell of seven games in 21 days - six Championship clashes as well as hosting Bolton in the Carling Cup - and Laws accepts it will be difficult.

The Burnley boss said: "That spell will be a real test of character and of our squad because it will certainly be stretched.

"We need to make sure the players are ready and physically and mentally able to cope with that."