BURNLEY manager Steve Cotterill is hoping to avoid a triple defensive blow ahead of tomorrow's visit of Southampton.

With Michael Duff already ruled out for the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury, Steven Caldwell failed a late fitness test and missed the midweek win over Norwich City with a thigh injury he sustained in training on Monday.

Now Cotterill is keeping a close eye on Stephen Jordan, after the full-back picked up a knock in the first half against the Canaries on Tuesday.

Although he completed 90 minutes, the former Manchester City defender is feeling the after-effects of a kick to his ankle, and both he and Caldwell will be given as long as possible to declare themselves fit for tomorrow's game (kick-off 5.20pm), while Robbie Blake is also battling to fully shake-off a hamstring strain.

"I just need time on all of them - Caldwell, Jordan, Blake - and they need time, so that's what we'll be giving them," said Cotterill.

"Stephen Jordan took a hefty whack very early in the game and, to be fair, he probably deserves a bit of credit for going back out in the second half.

"But we do need him for his heading ability. With the loss of Michael Duff another header is absolutely vital to us.

"Had we had a game (on Wednesday) I'd have said Stephen Jordan wouldn't have been fit, and (yesterday) he might have been nip and tuck as well really. He's got quite a swollen ankle, but we'll have to wait and see how he is closer to the time."

And Cotterill highlighted the important role Jordan has played since arriving from the City of Manchester Stadium in the summer, and believes patience should be applied while the 25-year-old continues to adjust to regular first-team football.

"There are a few moans and groans at the moment, because I hear them, but you've got to bear in mind he's still only a young man and not used to playing games week after week after week - and they come thick and fast in the Championship. But he's done okay," the Burnley boss said.

"I thought Stephen's first half performance the other night was absolutely first class, but what happens is when he slices a couple or kicks a couple out of play, everybody remembers that bit.

"He played a fantastic ball in the box the other night for Robbie Blake, down the blind side of the defender. It was a great run, great pass.

"I think before Barnsley he was in a bit of a sticky spell, but against Barnsley he was excellent, against a tricky winger, and he'll come up against another one on Saturday.

"He's coming out the other end and he'll get better with time, and that's where we are with that one."

He added: "I just felt last season (left back) would be a starting point for teams - they used to kick it on top of Jon Harley's head.

"I analysed a lot of the goals from last season and they used to come down that side from a starting point where they would perhaps outjump Jon Harley.

"That didn't happen in every game, but I just felt as though we wanted to be a bit stronger and a bit bigger back there this year, and at the start of this season with Duff at right back and Jordan at left back we were."