THEY say it's good to talk. And right now, Mark McGregor is in no mood to stay silent.

The quiet man of the Burnley back line has often had to bide his time, waiting in the wings for a chance to show fans why Stan Ternent brought him to Turf Moor.

It's maybe fair to say that McGregor's biggest asset - being versatile enough to play anywhere along the back line - has also been a liability in allowing him to settle in a regular position.

But the former Wrexham man finally seems to have found his niche in life alongside David May at the heart of the Burnley back line.

And he credits May with perhaps the hardest task he has had to confront - becoming a talkative defender.

McGregor, 27 in 10 days time, said: "Any player will always learn off David because he has all the experience in the world.

"We seem to have a good thing going right now and I can't quite put my finger on why. I suppose it's because he is a big talker and he talks you through games.

"He has told me to talk as well, which I've started doing - and things are going well."

Becoming a squad member is something McGregor admits he has found hard to handle since joining the Clarets in July 2001.

In his first season at Turf Moor, he made just one league appearance as Stan Ternent's side chased a play-off place.

Last season, that ratio picked up and he began 25 First Division games. However, his longest run in the Clarets side still stands at just eight games, collated at the end of a campaign that ultimately fizzled out in frustration.

Summer knee surgery wrecked any plans McGregor had of holding down his first team place at the start of the current season, keeping him sidelined until he returned fighting fit and ready to bolster the back line at Sunderland last November.

And finally, that eight-game record is coming under serious threat as he makes a sixth successive start, aiming to keep Gillingham at bay at Turf Moor tomorrow.

McGregor, who made 299 appearances for Wrexham in six years at the Racecourse Ground, said: "Chances don't come along very often and when they present themselves you have to take them or be passed by again.

"I had played every game at Wrexham, then I came here and found myself not playing regular football for the first time in my career.

"You begin to wonder when you will get your chance, but you just have to be professional about the game and wait.

"I tried to show what I could do every time I went out, and the most disappointing thing is putting all that effort in and then not playing on a Saturday.

"I finally got going last year, but this season, because I was out for three months with the injury, I knew I would have to bide my time again.

"In many ways my season is only just getting started now. My first game was at Sunderland and since then things have gone well.

"I had three games at the end of last year and then had a little break. Now I've come back and played five on the trot and all along I've felt if I got a decent run in the team I could show people what I can do. Now, I feel I'm doing that."

The next goal is three points against the Gills to give the Clarets their first league victory in two months.

McGregor added: "We have started 2004 pretty well, we're unbeaten in five games and only conceding a few goals.

"There is definitely a momentum now and the defence is playing a major part because we know if we don't concede we are always likely to score.

"Robbie (Blake) and Ian (Moore) are both pushing towards 20 goals each and if we keep a clean sheet we will always be in with a shout.

"Keeping the goals down has been the most pleasing thing. I feel a whole lot better and I'm sure all the other lads do, knowing we are going to be hard to beat. In the end, that's what will improve our season."