CHRIS Waddle's outspoken stance over heckling Turf Moor fans has mellowed as he begins the build-up to Saturday's vital home game against Wigan Athletic.

The Burnley player-manager, incensed at the time, has been prepared to look at things again now that the dust has settled.

And his priority is simply to ensure that he gets his players in the best shape possible to beat Wigan - and overtake them in the Second Division table.

"If you sit back and analyse the situation then, as far as the ones who were booing are concerned, it's a case of if the cap fits then they should wear it," he said.

"But a lot of people have said they were not booing and if so then they maybe deserve an apology.

"All I am trying to do is to improve and build a side that will hopefully do well for the rest of this season and even better next season.

"I know some players are not going to be favourites but it seemed to me to be a campaign.

"Sometimes you wear your heart on your sleeve and I was very annoyed at the time by it.

"Fortunately, the players themselves didn't have a problem during the game. We played well on the day and for all that we lost at Bristol City, those people who saw the game know we didn't play badly.

"So we can take a lot of belief from those two games." Waddle will hope that things can return to normal against Wigan at Turf Moor, for it is a game that Burnley desperately need to win to improve their chances of climbing away from the relegation zone.

The players had a weekend off, after drawing 1-1 with Sheffield Wednesday in a behind-closed-doors game on Friday, and there are a few injury niggles.

But the manager is optimistic they will all have cleared up in time for Saturday's game.

"We would rather have been playing at the weekend. It was hard to watch the FA Cup draw and not be involved," he added.

Burnley have a few injury problems after their games against Bristol City and Sheffield Wednesday but Waddle does not expect any of them to prove too serious.

Defender Neil Moore (knee injury) and striker Paul Barnes (hamstring) had treatment after the trip to Bristol, while Gerry Harrison (back) and Paul Weller (hamstring) were minor casualties from the friendly match.

"They are niggles more than anything and, hopefully, everybody will be back training tomorrow," said the manager.

"We had Wigan's game covered on Saturday and there is an extra incentive for us to win the game as we would go above them in the table."

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