NIK Michopoulos has one wish ahead of tomorrow's match against Sheffield United as he admitted: "I desperately want a clean sheet - I want it too much!"

The Greek keeper has shipped three goals in both League games this season and he knows he has made a couple of costly mistakes.

But he explained: "As a goalkeeper you cannot worry about that, you always have to focus on the next attack.

"I am an experienced player and I know I just have to forget my mistakes and concentrate so that I don't make any more."

And he revealed that his wonderful penalty save from Kenny Miller at Molineux last Saturday came with the hand that he had injured conceding the first goal.

"When I dropped the ball he (Nathan Blake) came in and kicked my right hand as he scored," he said.

"My hand was very hot for the rest of the game but it was with that hand that I saved the penalty. The next day it hurt and it was a worry for me because I have to work with my hands but now the hand is better and I will be okay for tomorrow."

That is a massive boost for his manager Stan Ternent as Michopoulos remains the club's only senior goalkeeper following the release of fellow Greek Luigi Cennamo and the failure to sign Marlon Beresford.

The 32-year-old shares Ternent's frustration at not being able to bring in another keeper as he said: "It would be better for me if I had a partner to train with.

"I enjoyed training with Marlon before the start of the season and we had a good relationship. But we know the boss has no money so I have to see what will happen."

Like the rest of the squad, Michopoulos is determined to get a first win of the season against the Blades and he insisted his confidence has not been affected by any errors - and for that he thanked the fans.

"They have always been good to me since I came to Burnley and when I hear them chant my name it gives me the strength to do well," he explained.

And if he can do well he is hopeful he may yet force his way back into the Greece squad for the coming European Championship qualifiers.

Michopoulos collected two caps at the end of last season but was over looked for this week's friendly in Romania and he admitted: "The manager never spoke to me to say I was not playing but I think he wanted to see another keeper.

"But the most important thing for me is to play my best for Burnley and to help the team to get some points. It has been hard to play for two games with only ten men but we are all trying to do well."

Ternent acknowledged that mistakes have been made in the opening games but he explained: "I will not criticise my players for errors, I will only do that for lack of commitment. People do make mistakes but they don't mean to."

Michopoulos has held his hand up to early season errors but he is not the only one to have lapsed. He has put them behind him and the best way he can prove that is by keeping the Blades at bay tomorrow.

He is clearly focused on that goal and no one would be happier if he could claim his first clean sheet of the season.