Clarets skipper Gordon Armstrong could be ready to make a timely return to action in Saturday's promotion showdown with derby rivals Preston North End.

The versatile defender missed the weekend win at Colchester with a calf strain that initially looked set to keep him sidelined for a fortnight.

However, he has been responding well to treatment since picking up the injury in the reserves a week ago and manager Stan Ternent is hopeful that his club captain will be available for a return to duty.

"He's not too far off and might be close for the weekend," confirmed Ternent, who reported a clean bill of health from the trip to Layer Road.

"Other than that we should be okay, although Mitchell Thomas and Andy Payton are suspended.

"That's a shame but we've got a good squad of players," he added.

Thomas's one-match ban, which follows five yellow cards, will force him to miss only his second game of an outstanding campaign.

The defender's previous absence resulted in a 4-2 Boxing Day defeat at Bury.

But Steve Davis was also sent off that day and with Davis in place alongside Ian Cox and Armstrong or Chris Brass, the Clarets still look much better equipped to counter the threat of Preston dangerman Jonathan Macken and whoever manager David Moyes pairs with him. Burnley have built their promotion push on the best defensive record in the division and conceded their first goal in four games thanks only to a rare blunder from goalkeeper Paul Crichton at Colchester on Saturday. That prevented the Clarets' number one from chalking up a 19th clean sheet of the season.

But overall he is delighted with the way Ternent's new-look side has tightened up after shipping an incredible 73 goals last season - 48 more than their current tally.

"We've got some great defenders now and we're confident with anything in the box that we are going to get it away. I think as a team we are defending ever so well," said Crichton, who revealed that extra work on the training ground has been paying dividends.

He added: "We work at it during the week and we all know what we're going to do and as long as we defend high up the field we look marvellous.

"We keep saying 'we'll get a clean sheet and we'll work on that'.

"And we've got 18 clean sheets this year which is a tribute to the boys. They've defended ever so well.

"We had a sloppy patch over Christmas and let ourselves down for three or four games. "But we put in a little bit extra work, the gaffer's been working with us and I think it's paying off now."

Meanwhile, out-of-favour midfielder Paul Weller underwent an operation on his knee injury yesterday and Ternent expects him to be out of action for at least a month.

"He's had his operation now and he will be out for up to six weeks," said the Burnley boss.

"It's a shame for Paul because he's been through a lot but he's a tough lad and he will come back from this."

Burnley Supporters Club have announced travel details for the Clarets' forthcoming trip to Blackpool.

Transport will depart from Colne bus station (5pm), Nelson bus station (5.10), Queensgate (5.20), Turf Moor (5.30), Tim Bobbin (5.35) and Rawtenstall (6pm).

The fare is £5 and seats can be booked in the Centre Spot before the Preston and Reading home games.

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