BIG Vince Overson is desperate to end his injury nightmare and reclaim a first team berth with the Clarets.

The central defender has been dogged by injury since coming back to Turf Moor this season, starting only seven first team games.

Now Peter Swan's towering performances are continuing to keep him out of the side as Burnley's promotion drive gathers pace.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel for Overson, Gerry Harrison beginning a two-match ban against Brentford next Saturday.

But he faces stiff competition to make the place his.

Both Jamie Hoyland and Mark Winstanley, who returned to training yesterday, are anxious to stake their claim.

It is a dilemma for manager Adrian Heath but one he insists is healthy for the club. "Vince will be happy as much as anyone that the team has been doing well," said Heath.

"But with Gerry Harrison's situation, he'll sense an opportunity for him to break back into the side.

"He'll be chomping at the bit, particularly as he's been unlucky with injuries since coming here.

"I know what Vince Overson can do but there'll be others in the frame.

"If Vince does get in, it will then be up to him.

"If he performs well - and he had been until the latest injury - he'll stay in.

"That's the position for all the lads and that's been reflected very much with Peter Swan."

Swan had come on as a substitute only once in the league this season until being recalled against York in November.

His performances have been consistently good and he has been an ever-present since.

"That shows I hold no grudges," added Heath.

"You play well, you get in the team, simple as that. "Jamie Hoyland is another whose attitude has been spot on.

"He's been out of first team action for most of the season but he's done a job when he's been called on."

Heath appreciates the frustrations a player can feel when he is kept out of the side for a prolonged period.

But he is encouraged by the fact that all of the present squad, whether in the first team regularly or not, have the club's interests at heart.

"I'm trying to pull everybody in the same direction and I can say truthfully that the players are responding ideally," he declared.

"If people don't conform, they can't expect to be involved.

"A player on the sidelines naturally has mixed emotions - he doesn't want the team to get beat but he knows that if that happens the chances are he won't feature next week.

"The ideal situation, of course, is if the team wins and the person in your position has a poor game.

"But the players in the team at the minute are doing what we ask of them and for as long as that is so I'll stick by them."

If a replay was required to settle this afternoon's FA Cup match against Walsall it has been scheduled for Tuesday, December 17.

New club secretary John Howarth held a fans' forum on Thursday night, coming about through Clive Holt's meeting with the Clarets Independent Supporters' Association a couple of months ago.

Howarth answered all the questions put to him by the fans and the exercise was useful and worthwhile.

A promise was made to organise such meetings in the future to cover all aspects of running the club from the playing side to ground safety issues.

The CISA are holding a meeting at The Park View on Thursday, December 12 at 8pm.

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