MARTIN Paterson has told new boss Brian Laws he’s up for the cup, but admits he has unfinished business with the Premier League too.

The Burnley striker declared himself fit after ending a four-month injury nightmare with a goal for the reserves in midweek.

Paterson, who needed surgery to repair damaged knee cartilage, is now hopeful of a first team recall for their lunchtime FA Cup fourth round game at Reading (kick-off 12.45pm), where he helped to secure the Clarets’ play-off final place with his 19th goal of the season.

But after having his top flight career cruelly interrupted in September, his ultimate goal is to score in the Premier League and boost Burnley’s survival bid.

“With me playing six games in the Premier League and not scoring and then getting injured I was gutted,” he said.

“But sometimes a test of character isn’t when you’re doing well, it’s how you react when things are against you.

“I’ve got to come back now and try to score goals.

“I’m a goalscorer, I think I’ll score goals no matter what the division.

“I’m just happy to be fit and have a chance now.

“I hope to be involved as soon as possible. I think that (reserve) game declares me fully fit.

“I don’t want to be seeing the reserves too much now hopefully.”

Burnley have undergone a change of manager during Paterson’s lengthy injury lay-off, with Brian Laws coming in following Owen Coyle’s departure for rivals Bolton Wanderers.

The 22-year-old described the period as ‘difficult’ but added: “If you look at the negatives you’ll be negative.

“We’ve got to push on now as a club, as a team and as a management staff.

“We’ve just got to push forward.

“The main goal is staying in the Premier League.

“It’s not about the old manager, it’s not about what he’s done, it’s all about Burnley Football Club staying in the Premier League, and that’s the main focus from the players.

“It should be the main focus for everybody.”

Paterson’s comeback is part of a triple injury boost for new boss Laws, as Chris McCann and Jay Rodriguez also came through the midweek reserve game against Hull City.

Rodriguez suffered a broken ankle in the same fixture at Accrington Stanley’s Crown Ground at the end of September, while earlier that month McCann limped out of the 3-1 win over Sunderland with medial and cruciate knee ligament damage.

The midfielder’s recovery was speeded up by one of the ligaments re-attaching itself, avoiding the need for surgery.

And Paterson has thanked physios Andy Mitchell and Luke Bussey for nursing the trio back to full fitness.

“I think a big pat on the back goes to Mitch and Luke. To get us three back 100 per cent, those two have been fantastic throughout,” he said.

“I’m just thankful to them and they take a lot of praise from all three of us.

“We were all injured at a very similar time and now we’re in touching distance of making an impact on the first team.

“All we’ve got to do now is show that we’re fit and try to break through into the team.”