MODERN managers use modern methods of communication - both on and off the field.

And Steve Cotterill's e-mail has been a busy portal in recent weeks following Burnley's impressive start to the season.

Clarets fans have flooded the new manager's 'in-box' with congratulations at an unbeaten start.

And with just one goal conceded in three games, much of the praise has been laid at the central defensive pairing of John McGreal and Frank Sinclair, whose rock-solid partnership has leaked just one goal going into tomorrow's Turf Moor clash with Wolves.

However, there's an unsung hero standing in the wings - or playing at right full back to be more precise!

"People have sent me e-mails saying how good John, Frank and Danny Coyne have been - and they have," insisted Cotterill.

"That's where you look to start your base if you want to build a team. But I think Michael Duff has done ever so well since he's been here and hopefully he'll continue.

"He'll be a good player for us if he carries on doing what he's doing. It will be tough for him because he will have up and down games, but I think he's been fantastic and that won't just come from me because I have an affinity with the kid - his team mates will tell you that too."

Duff, 26, has slotted in effortlessly at right back after becoming Cotterill's "calculated risk" when he jumped two divisions to join from Cheltenham.

But that is no surprise to the Clarets chief, who taught the Northern Ireland international his trade in several roles while coaching him at Whaddon Road

"At Cheltenham I played Michael at right back, centre back and right wing - all areas I felt he needed to progress in his game." Cotterill explained.

"I put him at right back because I felt his frame was too small, so I took him out of the thick of it against bustling centre forwards.

"He put on a bit more bulk and learned to defend a bit better, but then, getting into the attacking areas his crossing was poor, so I put him right wing to improve that.

"When his crossing improved, I slotted him back to right back and he ended up at centre back one day through an injury, where he formed a great partnership with another footballer, Chris Banks.

"He will end up as a centre back because he's a good athlete and he's good in the air. But after bringing him here, I just felt we needed two strong, experienced centre backs - hence playing Frank there.

"However we can, throughout the season, use the flexibility of changing that around should we need to, against taller centre forwards or quicker wingers."

It has been a whirlwind summer for Duff, who has moved club, uprooted his home and, earlier this week earned his fourth international cap as an Irish substitute in Switzerland.

Duff's absence this week, along with Jamaica's Micah Hyde and fellow Clarets midfielder Richard Chaplow, who attended an England U20 training camp, has halted Cotterill's training ground preparations ahead of the Wolves game.

But he is more than happy to make small sacrifices to allow his players to further their careers on the international stage and earn recognition for the club.

"We haven't organised the team because we haven't got them all here, but that's what happens when you have decent players," Cotterill insisted.

"They get called away on international duty if they are doing something right and I would rather have it that way than not.

"It's a feather in their cap and a feather in Burnley's cap and I don't think we should ever knock that situation.

"Yes, it can be a little bit disruptive, but then again the team that started the season and played the second and third game is not going to be too different in the fourth.

"They haven't done too much in training this week, so the thoughts and theories will probably still be embedded in their head.

"We just have to make sure they've got the legs and they're not tired. That's the big thing."