CLARETS captain Steven Caldwell will this week step up his fitness fight after missing the season so far with a groin injury.

The centre half, who was injured on his Scotland recall just days before the campaign began at Stoke City, began light training last week and could resume full training in the run-up to Saturday's game against his former club, Sunderland.

“He's not joined in fully with the group, but I would hope (this) week he'll get assessed again and see if we can move on from there,” said Coyle.

“It will be nice to get him back in the group, and we'll go from there.”