FORMER Turf Moor favourite Marlon Beresford admits he would love to make a Burnley return.

The Middlesbrough goalkeeper was back in East Lancashire on Saturday making his 'debut' on loan for his first club Sheffield Wednesday against Blackburn Rovers.

And he confessed he would jump at the chance of being back in the area on a permanent basis up the road with the Clarets if the opportunity ever arose.

"I would always consider moving anywhere that's going to give me first-team football.

"And whether that's with Burnley, Sheffield Wednesday or whoever then I'd always fancy it.

"Obviously, it always helps if you're familiar with the area and familiar with the place.

"And that certainly applies to both Burnley and Wednesday, so they'd appeal," said Beresford, who played over 250 games for the Clarets before joining Boro for £500,000 in March, 1998.

The 31-year-old keeper, who was Wednesday's best player in their 2-0 defeat at Ewood Park, is third choice for the Teessiders behind Mark Schwarzer and summer signing Mark Crossley and knows he needs to move to have any chance of playing regularly.

He added: "My chances have been few and far between at Middlesbrough in the last couple of years.

"So it's possibly time to look elsewhere to play my football. I had the chance to come to Sheffield Wednesday and I jumped at it to join on loan."

Beresford was always regarded as one of the best keepers in the lower divisions during his time at Burnley and was a popular figure at Turf Moor.

However, a Clarets return looks unlikely with Burnley currently well served on the goalkeeping front.

Greek international Nik Michopoulos has taken over the number one slot and is in the early months of a three-year contract, while Paul Crichton, an ever-present last season, is waiting in the wings for another opportunity.

And Michopoulos strengthened his grip on the first-team jersey with a stuning late save from Paul Smith to keep a first clean sheet in seven games at Gillingham on Saturday as Burnley stopped the rot after five League defeats with a well-earned point.

"It's nice to get back to having a clean sheet and seeing the lads perform a little closer to their potential," said manager Stan Ternent, whose side is back on course to achieve their first goal of safety -- with a bit to spare.

And only then will Ternent contemplate a renewed top-six challenge.

"It's possible but my target is somewhere in and around the mid-50 points which has been my target all along," he said.

"What will get you in the play-offs I'm not quite sure. If we can get to the mid-50s reasonably quickly then we'll try and kick on for that.

"If we got to the play-offs that would be marvellous but if you look a some of the teams that are in the division then it's difficult."

Before that, the Clarets have a crucial FA Cup third-round replay at Scunthorpe tomorrow night with Kevin Ball set to return from suspension.

However, Lee Briscoe's comeback will take a little longer.

"I don't think Bris will be ready because he needs to get a few games in. We've got a reserve match on Wednesday which I'd be hopeful he can play in if his hamstring allows him," Ternent added.

The Clarets youth team lost 3-1 at Preston on Saturday.