GARETH Ainsworth is in the running to occupy the manager’s hotseat at Queens Park Rangers full-time, but he’d be wrong to expect any favours from an old team-mate.

In fact, Clarke Carlisle is preparing to trim the Blackburn-born winger’s prospects as he returns to action for Burnley at Loftus Road this afternoon.

Carlisle was not afraid to admit he feared for his place before Steven Caldwell’s extra-time dismissal in the Carling Cup fourth-round feat at Chelsea in midweek, given the captain’s colossal effort alongside the returning Michael Duff.

But Caldwell’s first absence of the season opens the door for Carlisle to make an immediate return following his own suspension, and he’s determined to make the most of it to build on the momentum of their cup scalp and keep the Clarets in the Championship’s top six.

“I don’t think we have anything to fear in this league, we’ve played the likes of Wolves, Birmingham and Reading, and been equal to them for the majority of the time,” said the 29-year-old.

“Reading were the only team I think were in a different league to any of the other sides we’ve played. But even then, we matched them for periods of the game at Reading, and at home we beat them.

“Be it QPR, Reading or Barnsley, we have no-one to fear, we’re going to take the game to them.”

However, Carlisle, who spent four years at Loftus Road, has backed caretaker Ainsworth to have a successful career in management, whether his opportunity arrives in the immediate future or not.

“I played alongside Gaz for a couple of years, and I can’t believe so much has changed in the short space of time I’ve been away that he can be a manager!” said the defender, who won promotion to the Championship with Rangers in his final season in 2004.

“Joking aside, he’s a fantastic guy, someone you love to have around your dressing room, very charismatic and energetic.

“And he was always 100 per cent committed to the cause, whether he was fit for 50 minutes of the game or 90 minutes, he gave his all, and I’m sure he’ll transmit that to his squad.

“I’m slightly surprised he’s taken over the reins, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he was successful, because I think he will be a great leader of men.

“He will motivate his troops, and I’m sure they’ll all go out there willing to do over and above to not let him down, because they know he’d do the same for them.”