FOUR months ago Steve Thompson was paddling in the sea at Blackpool in search of an injury remedy.

Serious Achilles tendon damage had blighted his life and in the depths of despair he must have wondered whether he would play again.

At 31, and battling for full fitness, Thompson appeared at the crossroads of his professional career.

Tonight, though, as Adrian Heath starts his second game in charge, Thompson will lead the Clarets out at Bloomfield Road as Turf Moor's new Captain Marvel.

It was one of Adrian Heath's first duties to install a now fully fit Thompson as the new Clarets skipper. He will wear the armband with obvious pride as Burnley trade punches for a second time in ten days with the promotion-chasing Seasiders.

"It is a great honour and I'm really proud to be the Burnley captain," said Thompson.

"I've been captain at all my other clubs, Bolton, Luton and Leicester. I enjoy the role and I am relishing this great challenge.

"It makes it even more special for me because I've had such a desperate time with injury this season.

"It's the longest period I've actually had out of the game as a footballer. When the gaffer asked me to take the armband at Bristol I was a very proud man.

"It was so vital a decision was taken and the arrival of Adrian Heath is a great move. It has given everybody a lift.

"He has a superb pedigree in the game and played under a number of really top managers. I think it has helped knowing what sort of character and bloke he is. He is already starting to bring in his own ideas and methods."

Heath explained: "A decision had to be made over the captaincy situation and Steve Thompson was my choice.

"He is a lad with a tremendous amount of experience. Most of all though he has handled the pressure. He was skipper of Leicester when they went up to the Premiership. He has got admirable credentials in the game." Tonight's Lancashire derby marks the start of the most demanding seven days of the campaign for Burnley.

The Clarets lock horns with the top three teams in Division Two - Blackpool, leaders Swindon Town and Crewe Alexandra.

And Thompson sees absolutely no reason why Burnley cannot build on Saturday's smash and grab raid at Bristol City.

"We were a little bit unlucky to lose at Turf Moor to Blackpool and I don't think we've anything to fear at Blackpool tonight," he added.

"I believe we can cause them problems and that is just what we aim to do.

"All the lads responded to the gaffer at Bristol City and all of a sudden there is a real feeling of self-belief at the club

"The result at Bristol City gave everybody such a boost. We were all convinced it was going to be our day when Bristol missed all those chances and then Marlon saved the penalty. I can't describe the feeling of relief at the final whistle. The dressing room was a great place to be afterwards."

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