FRANK Sinclair has urged Burnley to be fearless in their approach to Wednesday night’s cup clash with Chelsea.

The Clarets are smarting after having a five-game unbeaten run ended at Championship leaders Wolves on Saturday.

But Sinclair, who began his career at Stamford Bridge before going on to captain the Clarets under Steve Cotterill, says he would encourage Burnley to stick to the footballing principles that engineered a run of just one defeat in 15 games before Saturday.

And the 36-year-old, now with League Two Lincoln City, believes the Clarets are capable of bouncing back to cause a Carling Cup upset against the Premier League’s top side.

“If Chelsea are on top form it would take a great team performance to get any type of result there, but Burnley have got to go there with no fear and not be scared of how they are going to play,”

said Sinclair.

“From what I’ve seen, the reason Burnley have been getting results is because they have been playing good, attacking football.

“If you go to Chelsea and sit back, trying to defend, with the quality they’ve got they’ll open you up.

“The standard that they play at is normally a different class at home.

“That’s why they had such a long, unbeaten run in the league.

“You’ve just got to hope you catch them on an off day for one, and you’ve got to be at your best to get a result.

“Burnley have got players like Wade Elliott, who are capable of getting on the ball and getting at people. And when you take on the big sides it is possible to beat them if you play your own game and put pressure on them. You’ve got to make the game uncomfortable for them.

“I played against Chelsea in the FA Cup with Huddersfield last year, so it’s a great draw for the club to go down there and experience what we did.

“We silenced the crowd for about two minutes when we equalised but then they came out for the second half and put the game to bed really. But it was the first time I’d been back since I left Leicester so it was good for me personally.

“I’ve got very fond memories of my time there so it was a special game for me and a big one for the club too.

“My reception from the Chelsea fans was unbelievable, before the game and after.

“They don’t forget their own, so that was a little bit extra special for me. It would have been nice to have been going back with Burnley this week!”

Sinclair won the League Cup twice, with Chelsea in 1998 and Leicester City in 2000 - when Tranmere Rovers, of the old First Division, made it all the way to the final after beating two top flight teams on the way.

“I’ve got fond memories of the League Cup,” he said. “And we had some great runs when I was at Burnley as well, when we knocked Aston Villa out in my first season.

“If the boys get to Wembley you’ll see a change in the whole of Burnley,” he added.

“The whole place will be unbelievable. I’ve seen it happen at clubs like Leicester - even though that’s a city anyway.

“If you get a day out at Wembley, regardless of why you’re there, it’s a special day.”