ANDY Payton may have grabbed the headlines as a two-goal sub on Tuesday night but the arrival of another local favourite was just as crucial.

John Mullin started his career at Turf Moor before returning from Sunderland in 1999 and after a season on the sidelines he burst onto the field on Tuesday night to help inspire the comeback from 2-0 down against Crewe.

Now he hopes to be involved in some way as the Clarets defend their top of the table position at West Bromwich Albion tomorrow.

"When you go on the pitch you are always going out there to perform," he said. "I don't try to put any more pressure on myself by thinking I am playing for a place.

"It is just great to get the chance to go out there and enjoy the game, express myself. If you try too hard, sometimes you don't perform."

The fine form of the midfield in the early weeks of the season has restricted Mullin to just one start, in the disappointing defeat by Rushden in the Worthington Cup.

On Tuesday, manager Stan Ternent asked him to play down the left and he caused countless problems for the opposition with a series of surging runs into the heart of the defence.

"I think one of my strengths is running at players and I am happy to play anywhere in midfield or even up front," he said. "If they ask me to do a job I will do it.

"It has been frustrating not being in the team but I have always said that it is a long season. We have a good squad here and there are a lot of players who are not even getting stripped for a match so I am happy to be involved.

"I would love to be playing every match the team has been doing really, really well. If a club is going to push for promotion you have to have first team players ready to come into the side if you have got injuries like we have got at the moment.

"The first division is a competitive league and we are up against teams with big squads, like West Brom.

"They made the play-offs last season and I think they will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. The Hawthorns is a very difficult place to go and get a result.

"We will be taking a big squad and whoever plays has got to be up for it."

Stan Ternent has been unhappy with the way the Clarets have started the last two games and Mullin was delighted to be part of the second half revival.

He said: "We were two down and it was just a case of going on, trying to put Crewe under pressure and having a go.

"The boss told me I was going on as soon as we got into the dressing room and I thought all the lads responded well."

The aim tomorrow is not to give the opposition the initiative and Mullin is fit and ready for a full 90 minutes if called on. With a doubt over Paul Cook's fitness he might be needed.

Ternent was certainly happy with his efforts in midweek as he said: "John Mullin did really well."

Like Payton, Mullin has given the manager something to think about in terms of the formation and players he will use.

And if he does get another chance to impress, Mullin will be keen to stake a permanent claim for a first team shirt.