MARTIN Paterson believes Burnley still have their top six destiny in their own hands, despite missing the chance to make up ground last week.

Two defeats from a run of three games in six days kept the Clarets out of the play-off positions.

But with 14 games to go, the fit-again striker is confident they can still make a claim for a promotion push.

Paterson was instrumental in securing Burnley’s place in the Premier League, top scoring with 19 goals in his first season with the club in 2008/09.

That year the Clarets extended their campaign and earned a trip to Wembley after suffering only one defeat in their last 11 league games.

And the 24-year-old reckons they are capable of reproducing that run as they target the top six again.

“We now need to concentrate and dig in because it’s time to start putting results and runs together,” said the former Stoke and Scunthorpe front man.

“In this league it’s possible to do that.

“When we got promoted we went on a 10-15-game run that was remarkable. And I think this group is capable of that.

“But it needs to be now rather than later.

“The next five games are crucial in my eyes. If we go on a nice five-game run now, it puts you in a really good position.”

Burnley were expecting to host three of the next four games at Turf Moor, starting with Saturday’s visit of Millwall. But Birmingham’s FA Cup replay against Chelsea has meant the scheduled Championship game between the Clarets and City has had to be postponed until April 3.

That switch means three out of Burnley’s next five games are away.

Defeats in their last two away games, against top six opposition, have upset a run of five wins from six games on the road in the league.

But Paterson believes the performance at Reading was enough to suggest they are capable of getting back on track on their travels.

“I’m biased, but I watched the first 25 minutes and there was only one winner,” said the striker, who made his comeback from a hamstring injury as a second-half substitute.

“They got a very lucky goal which came from nowhere and they managed to see it out, but I think the lads played really well.

“I think the manager has a way he likes to play, and it’s taken a while for the players to adapt and to learn.

“But now we’ve learned it we seem to be executing it really well.

“It didn’t quite happen at Reading, but this negative will turn into a positive in the next couple of home games.”

Paterson has missed large chunks of the last two seasons with a thigh injury insists he is now ready for the run-in.

And with Danny Ings boosting the attacking ranks after recovering from cruciate knee ligament surgery, and Junior Stanislas close to a return following a hamstring problem, Paterson insists additional firepower to back up Charlie Austin and top scorer Jay Rodriguez can be key.

“It’s come at the right time, we’ve got all the forwards fit and the competition heats up, which is good,” he said.

“We’ll be chomping at the bit to get into the starting line-up.

“We all want to play and score goals, so it’s excellent.”

He added: “Everybody is fit now, there’ll be competition for places, and if we’re all pulling in the same direction, which we are, we’ve got a great chance.

“I know Junior Stanislas is yet to come back, but once he’s back I think we’ve got a full squad, and now’s the time to start a run.”