Clarets wideman Graham Branch has been pumping up his iron intake to wing his way back to form.

Branch has been prescribed a course of iron tablets after feeling lethargic going into recent games.

And the evidence of his livewire second-half appearance in the Clarets win over Colchester on Monday suggests the remedy is just what the doctor ordered.

Branch revealed: "I went to see the doctor a couple of months ago and there was something wrong with my blood.

"So I have been on iron supplements and I have been feeling a lot better.

"Even though I was on the bench at Notts County I felt good and against Colchester I felt really good again.

"So hopefully I am starting to feel a bit better. Before a game I had been feeling a bit down and a bit lethargic but in the last couple of weeks I have been feeling quite good."

Branch lost his place in the Burnley line-up to Lenny Johnrose for last Saturday's goalless draw at Meadow Lane after blowing hot-and-cold in recent weeks.

But for a player who thrives on confidence, Branch's 45-minute outing as Chris Brass's replacement in the Clarets 3-1 victory over Colchester - when he posed a major threat on the left wing and laid on Andy Payton's second goal with a telling run and cross - should give him a timely lift.

"I think I did okay against Macclesfield and I was a bit disappointed to be left out.

"But it was just a case of coming on and making the gaffer think next time he picks the team whether to leave me out or put me in.

"Hopefully I have made it hard for him," added Branch, whose one disappointment was the continuing wait for his second Burnley goal.

Manager Stan Ternent is likely to stick with a winning formula for Saturday's trip to struggling Oldham Athletic in another important relegation tussle.

But Branch proved that he is a viable alternative and with Glen Little facing a one-match ban on Saturday week will still have a key role to play in the season's run-in.

And while he is stepping up his push for a return to the side, the New Year signing from Stockport also stressed that the team won't be taking their foot off the gas after pulling themselves five points clear of the bottom four.

"We said coming home from Notts County that if we can win against Colchester we will be putting a good little run together.

"So if we can carry on we should be out of danger," said Branch.

"We have got some hard games against Wigan, Bournemouth and Fulham so we need to win as many games as we can now. "We don't want to have to go to Northampton having to win away in the last game of the season.

"That happened last season and the lads don't want that again. And if we keep playing the way we are that isn't going to happen.

"We just want to get in a position where we are comfortable without thinking 'we need to win' and just letting the football happen because the football we played on Monday was very good and I think the fans appreciated it. It's up to us."

Meanwhile Brass is optimistic of being fit to play at Boundary Park on Saturday.

The Clarets defender wasn't detained in hospital following a clash of heads in the Colchester game which left him with mild concussion.

And after a check at the doctors yesterday, Brass was given the green light to continue in the Burnley defence as long as he shows no reaction later in the week.

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