NATHAN Delfouneso has been backed to light up Burnley’s top six charge in the last nine games.

The on-loan Aston Villa striker goes into this afternoon’s Championship visit of Ipswich in confident mood thanks to a goalscoring performance for England Under 21s on Monday.

The 20-year-old was one of the stand-out players in the friendly with Iceland at Deepdale, despite playing out of his favoured position.

Although Stuart Pearce’s young charges suffered a 2-1 defeat after taking a first-half lead, Delfouneso’s movement from the left to link up with Connor Wickham – who lines up for the opposition today – certainly caught the eye of Clarets boss Eddie Howe.

“He was a threat,” said Howe, who although aware Delfouneso prefers to play up front has already seen, and used, his potential to cause problems from out wide.

“He’s played there for us. We’ve rotated him out there.

“He took his goal really well and his movement was good.

“He’s a really talented lad.”

But Delfouneso’s interna-tional commitments in the last fortnight may determine how big a role he plays at home to Paul Jewell’s Tractor Boys this afternoon, as Howe has spent hours on the training ground with the rest of the squad getting them finally tuned for the run-in.

“We've lost him this last couple of weeks – we haven't seen him – so it's been difficult to get him integrated into our style. It's difficult to cram a load of work in with him in a short space of time,” said the Burnley boss.

However, he believes Delfouneso is capable of having a big say in how the race for the top six pans out.

“He's a good lad and he wants to do well. I'm sure there's time for our fans to see the best of him and I'm sure when they do they'll realise what a talent he is,” said Howe, who is relishing the remaining nine games, four of which are against top six teams.

“We’ve got an incredible run of games in a short space of time, but it’s an exciting time and hopefully a postive end to the season.

“We’ve got all the teams in and around us to play. We’ve got some tough game but some games to get our teeth into.

“Touch wood we do tend to play better against the top sides. So far that’s been the case anyway.

“It’s going to be difficult but I’ve got full confidence in the players and hopefully we can go on a run, because the team that puts a run together now, at this important stage, will get there.

“We are one of a number of clubs looking to make that run.

“It’s all set up for an exciting end to the season.”