STEVE DAVIS is home and he's here to stay.

Davis is just two games into his second spell at Turf Moor following a three-and-a-half-year exile at Luton Town.

But the Burnley defender is adamant that this time its for keeps.

"I wanted to make this my last move so hopefully when we go up we will be able to stay there. I would like to see out my career here," insisted Davis who signed a four-and-half year contract when he returned to the club in a £750,000 deal at the turn of the year.

The 30-year-old Northumbrian was one of the most popular players to have donned the claret and blue in recent times as he chalked up 162 League appearances for Burnley between 1991 and 1995.

He barely missed a game in that period as the club climbed into the First Division with Davis at the helm as skipper.

And that's where he is aiming again. "We have just got to keep the running going and if we don't get up this season then we are going to have a good enough squad to have a real good go at it next year," he said.

Burnley, backed by the cash of Barry Kilby and the on-going rights issue and with an experienced hand on the tiller in Stan Ternent, may be better equipped to handle promotion if they can achieve that goal within the next 18 months.

Davis for one believes he has improved since the last time Burnley were playing at that level.

"I think I'm a better player than when I left," he said.

"I think it's just experience. I am older and played more games and played with different players who have also got good experience, the likes of Mitchell Thomas and Gary Waddock.

"You learn things from them and the different managers you play under.

"You just try and pick things up along the way which makes you more experienced and a bit wiser." During his time at Luton, Davis established a reputation as one of the best defenders in Division Two.

A powerhouse at the back and comfortable on the ball, the former Southampton trainee is also a prolific goalscorer for a central defender - something Burnley have been lacking in recent times.

His goal in the Clarets' 4-3 win at Bristol Rovers on Saturday was his 11th of the season.

"I was delighted to score," he said. "I have probably been scoring one in every three this season so it's nice to get one for Burnley and I hope I'll get a few more.

"I'm not sure when the last one was so to win away from home is a good result, no matter who it's against. Now we have got to try and make sure we win at home on Saturday."

Davis's pedigree prompted Ternent to break Burnley's record transfer fee by £400,000 to sign a player he had targetted since moving into the Turf Moor hot-seat in June.

And it gave Davis an unsual entry into the Rothmans Football Yearbook as the record purchase and sale for the same club.

"I have thought about it and it's nice to have both in the record books," he confessed.

"But hopefully if we get where we want to be the transfer fee will be broken again hopefully in the not-too-distant future. That's what we are all aiming for.

"It's a long time since Burnley have had a bit of money to spend so I am pleased they had enough to get me away from Luton for what they were asking for me."

The old adage that you should never go back doesn't cut any ice with Davis, therefore.

He insisted: "It's been better than I thought it would be. Obviously it's the first time that I have played under the manager so I am enjoying that.

"They are a good bunch of lads and we have got a good team so everything's alright.

"I'm delighted to be back and we've had a couple of good results so things are going well at the minute.

"With Micky Mellon and Branchy coming in there have been three of us so it's been good not to be the only new boy and we are looking alright.

"Micky Mellon is going to be a good signing and Branchy has done well as well so hopefully we can keep it going and who knows?"

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