DAVID Jones believes the Clarets have no better incentive to get back to winning ways than staying in top spot, saying: “We’ve definitely got something there worth hanging on to.”

The league leaders go into their head-to-head reunion with former manager Eddie Howe and the visit of Bournemouth in fine form on the back of a 10-game unbeaten Championship run, while they have not suffered defeat at home in the league since March.

And midfielder Jones believes a test of their mettle in last week’s draw at Millwall, which ended a seven-game winning league run, can inspire them to kick on before the international break, and beyond.

“It just tested another part of our team. We’ve shown really good quality in other games where we’ve dominated games and been ahead, it’s easy to play in the kind of environment when you’re at home and winning,” he said.

“But it was a different test altogether going 2-0 down early on at Millwall, a tough place to go, and we managed to dig it out and could have actually come away with all three points in the end.

“They are really good positive signs because we haven’t been behind in many games this season so it’s really good for us and I think it will give us all confidence as well.

“We’ve got good players and really good staff. It’s definitely a very good dressing room to be in.

“There is a real good bond between the players, a really good spirit, but also you’ve got to take that onto the pitch.

“It’s no good just having it in the dressing room and on the training ground, we’re taking it onto the pitch and I think we’ve shown great character throughout the season so far, never more so than on Saturday coming back from two goals down, showing the spirit of the team.”

A point at The Den left Burnley a point clear at the top, and Jones added: “It’s a club that I feel with the support we’ve got we can go places.

“It’s not a surprise to me we are where we are. We just want to continue the way we’ve been going.”

But Jones has vowed to remain level-headed and not get carried away with their early season success, which has brought back-to-back manager of the month prizes for manager Sean Dyche, and England Under 21 recognition for October’s Championship player of the month Danny Ings.

“It’s not the character within the squad to get carried away. There’s a mixture of experience and youth, I don’t think anyone will be getting carried away,” said the former Wolves and Wigan midfielder, who arrived at Turf Moor in the summer on a free transfer.

“The manager and his staff get us to focus on each game and give all we have for each game so there’s no danger of that.

“I know it’s a cliche about taking each game as it comes but that’s the message the manager has been telling us and we’ve been delivering it so far in terms of really giving everything for every game, treating it as if it’s a cup final.

“It will be a good marker today to put in a good performance and get the result we want and go into the international break ready for a good run into the Christmas period.”