BURNLEY new boy Michael Ricketts is ready to bury his "bad-boy" reputation at Turf Moor.

The striker, on loan from Leeds United until the summer, insists he has been misrepresented by tabloid tales of being an awkward customer at his previous clubs.

But with a clean slate in front of him, the former England international is keen to wow Clarets fans by showing them the real Michael Ricketts.

"I am far from a bad boy and I don't know where my reputation has come from," insisted the puzzled hitman.

"Most people who I have worked with will tell you I am really easy going and I don't take myself too seriously.

"It has been a stigma for the last five years of my career, ever since I was at Bolton, and I don't know how it all started.

"But since then there haven't been too many managers wanting to touch me due to all the hearsay.

"That has been the most frustrating thing, but I'd like to think that when you get to know me I am an alright kind of guy and now I'm at Burnley I just want to be playing again. That's what all footballers want."

Ricketts, who made his debut in the midweek stalemate at Brighton, has been starved of first team football since returning to Elland Road from a similar loan spell at Cardiff in the new year.

The former Walsall and Middlesbrough striker, 27, admitted: "It has been a frustrating time for me at Leeds, which I understand.

"But the chance to come here and play football for four months is one I jumped at.

"There were a few clubs interested and I could have gone back to Cardiff, but the reputation that Steve Cotterill has in the game convinced me it would be interesting to work under him and hopefully this could be the kick start I need.

"I'm looking forward to my debut at Turf Moor. It's been a lucky ground for me in the past and I can remember a few goals there. Hopefully the goals will flow again."

Hughes focuses on Hammers

Blackburn Rovers are now focusing on tomorrow's trip to West Brom and Hughes is determined not to let complacency set in after such an excellent result in midweek.

"We're concerned about that," he added.

"It would be a real waste of a great performance and a great result if we weren't able to refocus our minds and concentrate on the job in hand, which is West Brom tomorrow.

"I have to say I don't anticipate us having a problem in that respect because I sense that the players are starting to believe they can have a really outstanding season if they can maintain the levels they are at at the moment."