AS the Clarets made a miserable start to the season with four straight defeats there was one man the fans felt they were really missing - midfielder Kevin Ball.

And Ball can see parallels with his own career in the way club skipper Steve Davis has suddenly become an important figure in that midfield role.

The experienced player was one of six men released by Stan Ternent in the summer and, with no disrespect to the others, he was the biggest loss.

He had played more games the previous season than the other five put together and the hole he left was proving very hard to fill.

But when Stan Ternent decided to play Davis in a central midfield role in the Worthington Cup tie at Huddersfield at the start of the month, he suddenly found one answer to his problem and Ball himself is not at all surprised.

The 37-year-old was back at Turf Moor today for the half time draw against another of his former clubs and he admitted: "I think that basically Steve is what I would call an out and out centre half - but I also started my career there.

"When he made the move forward I spoke to him about it and he has told me that he now appreciates how much hard work it is in the middle.

"Steve is a class act, very domineering on the park, a great character and the really big thing about him is that he has a real presence about him.

"I am sure that his move forward has been a key factor in the good run that the club has been on but I told him we both did it the wrong way.

"As you get older you are supposed to move back from midfield into a more defensive position but we both went in the opposite direction."

In his advanced position Davis has been both a scorer and a creator of goals and with a bit more luck he might have been back on target in the pulsating 2-2 draw at Portman Road on Tuesday.

Ball had not been back to Turf Moor before today since his departure but he believes a couple of other players have been crucial to the change in the club's fortunes - goalkeeper Marlon Beresford and striker Robbie Blake.

"Marlon is a quality player and him coming back in will have been a boost," he said. "Also you have got Robbie who came in last season but for one reason or another did not make the impact that he would have liked.

"Now he is doing very well by all accounts and I am very happy for him."

Ball revealed in yesterday's Evening Telegraph that he now accepts his Football League playing career is over and he is waiting to see what the future holds.

But with Davis now filling the role he played so well for two seasons at Turf Moor, he is hoping that the future is bright at Burnley.