DANNY Lafferty believes he is ready to put his Celtic disappointment behind him and attempt to emulate former Parkhead team-mate Danny Fox’s success at Burnley.

The Clarets have brought in Lafferty from Derry in his native Northern Ireland to provide competition at left back after being short in that area since Fox’s sale to Southampton in August.

Lafferty will need time to adapt to the English game before he is ready to challenge for his first-team debut, having arrived during the League of Ireland’s off season, but is confident he has shown that he is capable of competing in the Championship once fully fit - scoring nine goals during an impressive 2011 campaign.

The 22-year-old started his professional career in the Celtic youth set-up but returned to Northern Ireland after failing to make a senior appearance.

Among the players to have kept him out of first-team contention at Parkhead was Fox, who went on to enjoy successful spell with Burnley – something Lafferty now wants to do after admitting his style is not entirely dissimilar to his predecessor.

“I think Danny would see himself as an attacking minded full back as well and he can also defend very well so I guess there are similarities there,” he said.

“We're both modern day full backs, you have to be dynamic, athletic and show desire to get forward. In some ways we're similar.

“I was at Celtic when Tony Mowbray brought Danny in. He came in and made the left back slot his own, as he did here at Burnley. He’s an excellent player.

“I want to get into the team here as soon as possible and show everybody here what I'm all about.

“It was disheartening leaving Celtic after being there for so long but there just came a point where I realised I needed to play first team football.

“I suppose this is a second chance but without sounding arrogant I think it’s one I deserve.

“When I went home after having that disappointment at Celtic I put my head down and I worked hard.

“I'm hungry and I want to challenge myself by playing at the highest level possible.

“Burnley have given me that platform so I want to repay their faith in me.

“I’m ready and confident that once I get fully fit I can impress here.”

Lafferty follows in a fine tradition of Northern Irish players at Turf Moor. Jimmy McIlroy, Willie Irvine and fellow left back Alex Elder all wrote their name into Clarets history during the 1960s, Billy Hamilton was a darling of Turf Moor in the 1980s while namesake Kyle Lafferty earned a £3m move to Rangers in 2008 after coming through the club’s youth system.

The forward also forced his way into the Northern Ireland team during his time at Turf Moor and Burnley’s new signing, who is no relation, hopes to do the same.

“I don’t really know Kyle personally, I just bumped into him a few times when I was in Glasgow,” said the Clarets’ new Lafferty, who is expected to be called up by recently installed Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill for the first time later this month.

“But Kyle was obviously very successful here and secured a move to Rangers. I’m just hoping to the best I can for the club.

“Of course I want to get international recognition but you’re only going to do that by playing well at club level.

“I’ve got to work extra hard at Burnley. It’s a dream move for me to come over here and play at this level.

“I’ve spoken to the Northern Ireland manager quite a bit over the last number of weeks and I know I’m in his plans.

“That spurs me on to force myself into the set-up here, to get that kind of recognition.”