LEE Briscoe's hamstring injury looked certain to end his unbroken run in the Burnley side this afternoon at 38 matches.

And he admitted: "I have played in a lot of different positions in that time.

"I looked at the fixtures we have played so far this season and I have played every game before today and I don't think I have played two successive matches in the same position.

"It has been a little bit strange but it is just one of those things that you have to get on with. The more positions you can play then the better it is for the manager, especially when you have got a small squad as we have at the moment."

Briscoe has played at left back, left wing back, the left side of midfield and also in the middle of the park and while he is happy to play anywhere he has no doubt where he is happiest.

"I do enjoy playing in the centre because you can get a lot more involved," he explained. "The way we play there is always a lot of attacking down the right and so if you are at left back you can get a little bit isolated and it is hard to make an impact.

"But I understand the fact that I have to play wherever I am needed and it is the same situation for a lot of other clubs.

"Once again this weekend we are down to about 16 fit players and that is happening all over the country. I am sure that a lot of clubs will be caught short before the end of the season."

Last Saturday Briscoe's partnership in the middle with Tony Grant was key to victory over Wimbledon and he said: "It was good because I have now played a couple of times with Tony like that.

"The problem is that when you change around a bit it is hard to get good partnerships going. We did well on Saturday but then for the match at Huddersfield we had to change again.

"It would be nice to get some kind of routine and get to know a person but it has not been possible.

"I think you have to take it as a compliment that the manager thinks you are capable of doing three or four different jobs."

Briscoe was gutted at the prospect of missing his return to Hillsborough where he started his career and made 78 League appearances when the club was still in the Premier League.

"It would have been the third time I had gone back and played there since I left and it is a big disappointment because it is always nice to return," he said. "I have one and lost one there and it was the first game I looked for when the fixture list came out."

The good news for Briscoe and the other walking wounded at Turf Moor is that there is a clear week coming up with no midweek game.

Last season he was the hero in that game, scoring twice to win the game 5-2.

He will be desperate to get straight back into the team and start another long run in the side - no matter what position he plays!