DANNY Coyne has revealed that manager Steve Cotterill's will to win rubs off on Burnley's squad.

The depleted Clarets are looking to end a two-game sequence without a victory as they host Sunderland at Turf Moor this Saturday.

They must do so without suspended pair Jon Harley and James O'Connor, while Andy Gray is ruled out until February with a metatarsal injury.

As seventh-placed Clarets seek a quick return to winning ways and the Championship's play-off positions, goalkeeper Coyne says the players take inspiration from Cotterill's burning desire for success.

"He's a winner," said the Welsh international.

"He is very highly motivated and football is everything to him.

"He's desperate to do well and that rubs off on all the players.

"He wants everything to be absolutely spot on, from the way that we train to our preparation for games.

"He's always looking for us to improve and we all want to as well.

"Everybody loves going into training and we have got such a good spirit.

"I think that is definitely one of the most important things for any team and we have got that here.

"The gaffer is very particular about the players he brings in to the club and he looks for everybody to gel."

Last Saturday's narrow 1-0 loss at Coventry meant Burnley slipped out of the league's play-off places for the first time since September.

But back-to-back home games - against the Black Cats and then Derby on December 23 - presents an opportunity to jump back into the top six.

Coyne added: "We want to be in the play-offs and that's what we're aiming to achieve but there is such a long way to go and you can't afford to get carried away.

"It's an old cliche but all you can do is take every game as it comes."

Coyne admits he is feeling stronger than ever after making a return to Burnley's line-up.

The 33-year-old made his long-awaited comeback against Leeds almost three weeks ago, his first start for 14 months after recovering from a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Wrestling the gloves off Brian Jensen, Coyne is delighted to be back between the sticks but insists competition for the number one jersey is healthy.

"I'd been fit for a while and was just waiting for my chance - 14 months is a long time to be out," said Coyne.

"During your rehabilitation, you do a lot of work on strenghtening muscles and I think my legs are stronger than ever.

"The physios really concentrated on me getting full flexibility back in my knee because you need that as a keeper, with all the diving and jumping you do.

"It's always nice to have competition for places because it pushes you on and the gaffer has said himself that he's very happy to have us both available.

"Brian (Jensen) is a great lad and we bounce off each other well.

"The banter between us is excellent and he has no ill-feeling towards me because I'm in the team."