STEVE Davis is hoping to put a nightmare year behind him to help the Clarets end the season on a FA Cup high.

The skipper returned to action in the reserves this week and today admitted: "It is great to be back."

Now he is hoping that a second successive injury-ravaged season may yet end with glory - as he is backing his team-mates to earn the Clarets a place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

"It has been a nightmare, very frustrating and a lot like last year," he said. "But there is nothing you can do about it, you have to stay positive and there is still a lot to play for, starting at Watford on Sunday.

"The lads have been absolutely brilliant getting the team this far in the Cup because we have had some tough games, being drawn away from home in every round.

"The only match I have missed is the Brentford one and I just hope that I will get a chance to fight for a place in the semi-finals - if we can make it."

Having only played an hour of football after a long absence, Sunday's match looks certain to be a little too soon but Davis could be ready to play a part in any replay against Watford. However he knows he will have a battle to break into the current side, club captain or not.

Stan Ternent has shown he is willing to trust the men who have done well by leaving the likes of Glen Little, Robbie Blake and Paul Weller on the bench so Davis knows he has to be patient.

But if the 34-year-old does manage to get back and play a part in the FA Cup run, a season to forget could quickly become one he will always remember.

"The two lads at the back have been outstanding," he said. "Drissa Diallo has come in and he has been so whole hearted, he is very good in the air and strong in the tackle.

"He has got everything you would wish for in a defender, he has settled in well and he is now a valuable member of the squad. I remember watching him get that great goal against Fulham and just wishing it was me on the end of that corner.

"A lot was made of the player not challenging him but he rose superbly and I think he would have scored anyway. He showed his desire and he has got a great leap on him.

"Coxy has been superb as well and I am chuffed to bits for him. He had a spell when he was out of the team but he has forced his way back and gone from strength to strength.

"The great thing is there is real competition for places across the pitch and the manager has done really well when you think of the financial problems."

On Wednesday Davis played the midfield holding role filled by Paul Cook in recent weeks having impressed in a more advanced position when he was in the side earlier in the season.

"I think the system has been working well and I think Dimi showed that you can even play it with a smaller man up front," he said. "But Gareth is a really good option because he has the threat in the air.

"But even when Cooky has been playing the defensive role he has got forward well and that is the beauty of the system, there are men to cover back for him."

Davis was back in training with the rest of his team mates this morning and he admitted: "I felt fine after the game. I was only going to play a half but I felt alright at half time and they asked me to play another 15 minutes.

"If I'd had the chance I would have liked to stay on a bit longer but I was a bit greedy, 65 minutes was probably enough.

"But when it comes to getting fit there is nothing like playing games and that is one of the reasons I was out there a little quicker than expected."

His knee problem, suffered as he scored twice against Rotherham, has kept him out of the first team for almost three months.

Ternent has never stopped saying how much the skipper's presence is missed and he can't get him back soon enough.