IF Lee Roche ever feels down about warming the Burnley bench, he just slides a treasured video into the machine to cheer him up.

The former Manchester United defender made a sensational start to life at Turf Moor last August with a screamer of a goal on his debut against Crystal Palace.

However, since that opening day 3-2 defeat, Roche has made just seven starts after watching Dean West steal a march in the right back spot.

And that means ahead of the Clarets rematch with the Eagles tomorrow, Roche has had plenty of opportunity to replay the most memorable moment of his career so far.

He said: "It's a goal I still have on video and one I like to watch from time to time. It was the first game I played and I just remember the ball being crossed and bouncing up for me to hit it.

"I haven't scored many - I normally lay it off to the strikers, but I was pleased with it and hopefully I can get a few more like that starting on Saturday - if selected!"

Roche, who featured in the defence that kept a rare clean sheet at Mansfield last weekend, added: "I was pleased with my performance and I hope I'm in the team again this week, but we'll have to see what happens."

Roche still feels Burnley fans have not seen the best of him since he made the switch from Old Trafford last summer on a two-year deal.

But in a welcome display of the team unity, he paid a glowing tribute to 31-year-old rival West, who has kept him kicking his heels on the bench for the majority of the season.

Roche, 23, admitted: "It's always frustrating when you're not in the team because everybody wants to play.

"But you've got to accept that other players do well, and you've just got to sit and take your chance when it comes.

"Dean is an experienced player who has been at the club a while and is established, so I think sometimes you just have to sit back and accept that.

"You don't really want to be on the bench - not many players do - but you just have to train as hard as you can and hopefully the gaffer will give you a chance, you can take it and settle back into the team."

He added: "I really want to show the fans what I can do, because it's been a bit stop-start and they haven't really seen me.

"Hopefully I can get a run of games and the fans can finally see the best of me because it's yet to come."

Roche is now hopeful that chance will come at Palace, who have suffered a mid-season slump since that dramatic opening day victory which was achieved despite having two men dismissed.

Dougie Freedman's hat-trick made it a miserable start to the season for Stan Ternent's men, who head for South London gunning for revenge.

Roche roared: "They have been doing well recently and we know it's going to be hard, but we know what's expected and we are more than capable of winning.

"We know we've been playing well and it's sometimes just one little mistake that has been costing us.

"Things like that change games, but the manager and the staff have been telling us to keep our heads up and it will change.

"Now we just want to get a win for the fans, because that's all they want to see at the end of the day."