MARLON Beresford has signed a new month-long deal to stay at Turf Moor but he said: "I hope to sign a longer contract next week."

Beresford admitted it had been frustrating not getting a longer term deal ahead of tomorrow's clash with Walsall but he said: "I am just happy to be here and to be playing first team football.

"I suppose this place is the one that feels most like home and I do want to stay. I feel very relaxed and at home and I am enjoying it enormously. I hope that can continue.

"I have been frustrated not to be signing a longer term deal and I don't want to be in a situation again where my contract is up in a couple of days and I still have to get something sorted.

"That is why we hope to have talks next week and so it will be sorted out long before the next month is up. I want something more secure for me and for my family."

Beresford has only been on the losing side once all season, during his month in goal for York City, and he is not in the least bit surprised that the Clarets have managed to turn things around.

"They weren't suddenly a bad team at the start of the season, last season proves that," he said.

"The manager's ideas have started to come in, commitment levels are high and we have been working hard on the training pitch.

"You have seen how quickly things can change because we have gone from rock bottom to mid-table. Now we have got to aim for the top six.

"We are in form, confidence is high and we know we have some tough games coming up but we can only go out there and win on Saturday."

Clarets fans believe it is a better Marlon Beresford that has returned to the club than the one that left for Middlesbrough just over four years ago. He agrees and believes he owes a debt of thanks to a goalkeeping legend.

"I worked with Peter Shilton in my first two seasons at Middlesbrough and I can't speak too highly about him," he said. "I also enjoyed working with Paul Barron who took over as keeping coach.

"I think I am a better player for going there, the coaching facilities are top class and my game developed. I think my command of my box is better and that is a part of the game that is getting more and more important."

And he has certainly not had any communication