HAVING served a one match suspension against Stockport County last week, influential midfielder Tony Grant is set to return against Millwall tomorrow.
But with competition for places at Turf Moor becoming increasingly competitive, assistant manager Sam Ellis admitted everyone in the squad is keen to be in the starting 11.
"I think you will find that everybody in the squad thinks he should be in the side," he said. "That is what we would expect from them."
And that certainly applies to Greece Under-21 striker Dimitri Papadopoulos who has been in prolific form for the reserves in the past two games.
Five goals have reminded Stan Ternent just why he paid £500,000 for him in the summer and Ellis said: "Dimitri probably feels he is not far behind the current strikers.
"But the good thing for us is that the goals have been shared around between 13 or 14 players this season and we have not just been relying on one or two strikers."
That said, Gareth Taylor and Ian Moore are currently in good goalscoring form with Taylor joint top scorer on nine with Glen Little.
But Ellis knows that another tough test lies ahead tomorrow with last week's clash against Stockport the proof that there really is no such thing as an easy game in the first division.
"The Stockport match showed what a hard league it is," he said. "We knew it would be a very hard, physical battle but we can trust our players to go out and try their best.
"When you are in the position that we are, top of the table, every game is going to be difficult because everyone wants to shoot you down. Not that we are complaining, it is a very nice position to be in.
"But we know that Millwall have got a very good side, they have got good young players who are very enthusiastic. It should be a very interesting game."
With Grant available again, Ternent has a number of options to consider. The fact that Ian Moore and Taylor both netted last week would suggest that they will again spearhead a 4-4-2 formation.
Alan Moore and Glen Little played well down the flanks last week and are certain starters but Grant can come back into the middle alongside Kevin Ball with the versatile Lee Briscoe returning to the left back position.
Graham Branch has struggled in that role in the last two games and Briscoe's dependability could win him the vote.
There is no doubt that Grant was missed against Stockport County and he will be keen to return having only tasted defeat in one Clarets match that he has started, the last reversal against Wolves at Molineux.
It is thanks to the unbeaten run of nine games that followed that defeat that the Clarets will kick off tomorrow four points clear of Grant's former club Manchester City and Wolves.
Ellis repeated: "We are enjoying it and we want it to last as long as possible." Victory against the Londoners would certainly help.
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