BURNLEY manager Steve Cotterill has insisted there is no room for complacency within his starting line-up.

The Clarets boss strengthened his squad with the summer additions of goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly, wide man Besart Berisha, defenders Stephen Jordan David Unsworth, Clarke Carlisle and Graham Alexander, as well as securing the return of Robbie Blake.

And although Wayne Thomas and Stephen Foster have moved on, Cotterill has an abundance of players who are capable of playing in more than one position.

Alexander, a specialist right back, made his Clarets debut at Colchester United in central midfield, while Unsworth is capable of playing at left back and left FROM BACK PAGE midfield as well as his preferred centre half role.

And it is through that kind of versatility that boss Cotterill is able to make the most of his options, meaning no-one is guaranteed a place.

"You can look around and James O'Connor wasn't in the 16 (at Colchester); Joey Gudjonsson wasn't in the 16; Kyle Lafferty wasn't in the 16; so we're delighted that we've still got those players in and around the squad to come in," said Cotterill.

"They're very much part of it. I didn't think that Joey had too good a game in midweek (against Oldham Athletic) and I decided to leave him out and change things.

"We brought Graham Alexander in, who I thought was an excellent steadying influence with Chris McCann."

And Cotterill admitted Alan Mahon's first Championship start was reward for his impact and endeavour in the Carling Cup and the reserve team's winning start to the new season.

"He had two good performances in midweek. He came on and I thought he was very good against Oldham, put a great ball through for one of the goals and I thought his performance in the reserves when there's not so many people watching, was excellent as well, so he deserved his place," the Burnley boss said.

"It's nice now because if they don't play well, then they don't have to play; and if they play well, they can play. It's nice to be able to have that little bit of a choice because we haven't had that before."