BURNLEY boss Owen Coyle believes the increasing competition for places will have a positive impact on performances.

"When the boys are coming back fit we're going to have some very good players, and it's up to the boys at the moment who have possession of the jerseys to make sure they retain them," he said.

"If players are doing well and warranting them, then great.

"There are boys who have still to come back in who have been out injured, and that's a pleasing thing, that you know you've got that work-rate and we can add to that.

"We've got undoubted quality, but we have to keep trying to bring that on game in, game out.

John Spicer likely to be back in contention after recovering from an ankle injury which ruled him out of Coyle's first two games in charge.

And Coyle said: "I think Spicer's got a chance of training.

"He trained last week but last Thursday, when I came in, he'd hurt his ankle again and it was one of those where he could have probably tried to get through it, but he could have set himself back for three or four weeks.

"So we decided to rest him and make sure he's 100 per cent and I hope that's the case.

"We'll weigh that up and evaluate it and take it from there.

"But everybody will get their opportunity in time, whether it's through somebody else being injured or suspended or what have you, so everybody's got their part to play, and it's important that when they do, they show they're at their best.

"I don't want people trying things and trying too hard.

"I just want them to play their natural game and show all the abilities that they've got that brought them to this wonderful football club."