TURF Moor has proved to be the springboard from which Nathan Dyer's career has flourished.

Two season ago, the 19-year-old spent just under two months on loan with Burnley to help him find his feet in the football world.

Arriving as a fresh-faced 17-year-old, he made five Championship appearances and scored two goals - the second of which, against Crewe on November 26, helped him to kick-off his 18th birthday celebrations three days early.

He returned to the St Mary's Stadium fuelled with confidence having proved to himself and those around him that he could make the first team grade, and has since gone on to establish himself with the Saints.

But he'll never forget where it all started.

"Burnley did well for me when I went up there," said the winger, before adding modestly: "I'm not too sure if they actually remember me but it's nice to go back up there.

"They believed in me which gave me a chance and helped me get into the Southampton squad and where I am now."

That is a perception that his manager, George Burley, fully endorses. And while Burnley boss Steve Cotterill is proud to have played his part in the progression of a youngster who is hotly tipped to make the step up to the Premier League, he is keen to prevent him from stealing the limelight in front of the Sky cameras tomorrow night.

"To be fair to George Burley, he mentioned the other day when he was talking about Nathan that the loan spell he had at Burnley seemed to have done the power of good.

"What it probably did was give him a taste of first team action, playing in front of crowds, and he looks to have come on again.

"He looks as if now he's not the little boy that he was when he first came here. He looks as if he's got a bit more aggressive, and good luck to him, apart from tomorrow, that's all."

Even though his spell in East Lancashire was brief, from experience Dyer knows how difficult it can be to get a result from Turf Moor. In the three home games he was involved in, Burnley took nine points.

And he isn't expecting an easy ride tomorrow as the Clarets bid to retain their unbeaten home record this season.

"Turf Moor's a really hard place to go and get a result," said Dyer.

"They all work hard and we've got to go there and play to our abilities.

"We're one of the best attacking teams in the league and we know we're going to get goals, that isn't a problem, but we just need to work hard from the start and close up any gaps and push for a win.

"It's been hard conceding goals. Every time we go one up they seem to get one which is quite frustrating but we've just got to keep being strong together, work for each other which is the key and we'll do well."

But Burnley are also priding themselves on their own work ethic this season, which Cotterill believes was key in securing a midweek win over Norwich City, despite a late rally by the Canaries after the Clarets had blasted into a 2-0 lead inside the opening four minutes.

"They're in good form. Sometimes when you haven't won for a little while, crossing the line's the hardest part of it," he said.

"The other night, at 2-0, we know the next goal is very important in the game. If we go and get it we may go on and get a fourth goal, when they get it we know what it's all against us then.

"Teams take a step back and they don't want to give anything away and their nervousness and edginess transmits to the crowd and that's an awful scoreline, 2-1, especially if you've been the ones that have been 2-0 up.

"But it's happened and we've come back from it, against Bristol City, being 2-1 down late on, we came back from it from being 2-0 down against Ipswich and the other night, to a certain degree, we were good at holding on to 2-1, because that's what stage it got to in the game.

"I don't think it should have got to 2-1, but once it gets there you've got