STEVE Cotterill insists he does not want to put hat-trick hero Gifton Noel-Williams on a pedestal.

The transfer-listed striker will be looking for a start after leading Burnley's sensational comeback against Barnsley on Tuesday night, coming off the bench to slam a second-half treble as the Clarets won 4-2.

But while Noel-Williams grabbed all the headlines after a tough time at Turf Moor, Cotterill is not about to put any pressure on the giant forward.

"It's pleasing for Gifton at the moment," said Cotterill.

"Everyone will perhaps want to stick him on a pedestal.

"But I don't want to, because then he comes down to Earth with a bump.

"It's nice to have things written about him and I'm sure he's enjoyed the last couple of days.

"But he will be the first one to say that it was his team-mates that helped him out and get that hat-trick."

Noel-Williams joined Burnley in the summer of 2005 after netting 13 Championship goals for Stoke in the 2004/05 season.

And Cotterill is now hoping the 26-year-old can reproduce the form of two seasons ago as he takes his squad to the Britannia Stadium tomorrow.

He added: "You don't know why he was better in the second season (at Stoke). If that happens to replicate itself then we'll have a good player for us this season."

While Noel-Williams took the glory, fellow striker Andy Gray led the line superbly and Cotterill believes, on his day, the Scotland star will weigh in.

"Andy Gray is an excellent team-player," said Cotterill. "He's a good striker, works hard and on another day will be the one getting the goals.

"Gifton has had it in the past when he's played with Andy, when Andy got the goals.

"On this occasion, it was Gifton fortunate enough to be tucking them away.

"I'm sure Andy will get his rewards. I've said it to Andy that I want him to be a little bit more selfish and get shots away."

Cotterill insists his Burnley side won't get carried away as they bid to prolong their unbeaten Championship record on the road.

The Clarets catapulted themselves back into the league's top six following Tuesday's triumph.

Ahead of tomorrow's trip to Stoke, former Potters boss Cotterill admits that while his side are enjoying their football of late, they are keeping a lid on expectations.

"We are not going to shout anything from the rooftops if we play well," admits Cotterill. "And we are not going to be down in the dumps if we play well and don't get a result.

"We are keeping our feet on the ground and not getting carried away. But the squad seems to be enjoying its football at the minute."

Former Stoke trio Wayne Thomas, Noel-Williams and James O'Connor are among the Burnley men making returns to their former club tomorrow.

Asked if the fixture presents extra incentive for them, Cotterill said: "I don't think so.

"We only get three points if we win and we only get a point if we draw.

"We got beat there 1-0 last year and won 1-0 the year before. All in all, it's about us on the day.

"If we play well and perform, then we've got a chance of winning any game no matter where it is."