JOHN Spicer is urging Burnley to put daylight back between the Clarets and the Sky Blues this weekend.

Last weekend's free weekend allowed Championship rivals to send the Clarets into the bottom half of the league table for the first time since late October.

However, victory over Saturday's opponents Coventry would jettison Steve Cotterill's side back into the top half again.

And after a frustrating time stewing on back-to-back defeats against Wolves and Ipswich, midfield schemer Spicer is itching for a return to action to help get the Clarets back to winning ways.

He said: "Losing two successive games means it's been a long wait and now we just want to crack on this week and get the three points at Coventry.

"They were on a bit of a run, but they lost at the weekend so it's up to us now to go there, beat them and push on for the top half of the table."

Spicer, still in his debut season in the Championship following last summer's move from Bournemouth, started his first games of 2006 against Ipswich and Wolves after a spell back on the Burnley bench.

And after two lively performances, the former England U21 international is determined to keep his place in the starting line up on the Clarets first ever visit to the Ricoh Arena.

"The gaffer always says if you train hard you will get your rewards," said Spicer. "That's what I've been doing and I managed to get back in for the last two games.

"Coventry is a new ground, so I'm looking forward to going and playing there. I didn't play at Highfield Road, so hopefully I can keep my place and have a good game there on Saturday."

Meanwhile Burnley, who are without suspended defensive duo John McGreal and Wayne Thomas on Saturday, have been handed a boost with the news that Coventry's leading goalscorer Gary McSheffrey will also miss the game.

The 13-goal striker, who has only missed two games in all competitions this season, collected his tenth yellow card of the campaign against Plymouth last weekend and starts a two-game against the Clarets.

Sky Blues Defender Ady Williams will also miss the match after he picked up his fifth booking against the Pilgrims.

Former Watford and Cardiff defender Robert Page will deputise for Williams after completing a suspension.