KEVIN Ball has been given a licence to thrill and will have Crewe Alexandra as the latest side in his sights at Turf Moor tonight.

The vastly experienced midfielder helped Burnley gain a foothold in Division One following his summer move from Fulham in a central holding role.

But in recent games he has been encouraged to widen his brief and get forward whenever possible, coinciding with a run of five wins in six matches prior to the defeat at Nottinghan Forest last Wednesday night.

Ball, who has helped Burnley up to seventh in the table, revealed: "When I first came here Stan asked me to do a certain job in the team. Since then he's allowed me to elaborate a bit more and get forward more.

"When I first came I was told to do a certain thing and I feel by doing that it gave us a steady start to the season.

"He's started to tell me to do other things and at the end of the day you do whatever your manager asks you.

"If he asks me to sit deep and protect people I'll do that and if he says to me to get forward I'll do that."

Ball has become increasingly influential for the Clarets and will continue in a central midfield unit with Paul Cook and Micky Mellon, assuming tonight's game passed a precautionary pitch inspection this afternoon.

The match referee was due to check the pitch prior to Crewe's departure but barring any late downpour Burnley were optimistic of avoiding a repeat of Saturday's postponement.

And Ball is itching to get back into action. "I enjoy playing any game against team. All I want to do is pull the shirt on and get on with it," he said.

"We were disappointed on Saturday not to be able to bounce back after the game at Forest. But there was no way the game could be played and I think the referee made a spot-on decision."

That defeat at Forest was Burnley's first in 10 League and Cup games and while Ball feels the scoreline was unjust, he is still anxious to make amends against a Crewe side lieing 18th in the table but with successive wins behind them.

He added: "You've got to put the game in perspective. I thought in the first half we played very well and were unfortunate to go in at half-time 2-0 down. I always look into how we've been beaten.

"There are certain things we could improve on but by the same token there was a penalty, two thirty-yard free-kicks and a couple of other great goals. So you've got to put in perspective and I don't think Forest were any way five-nil better than us and I think anyone who went to the game would say the same thing.

"But by the same token the scoreline did read Nottingham Forest five, Burnley nil so you look forward to your next game to hopefully be able to put that right.

"As the manager said it's the reaction that's important. We've had a little bit of a hiccup but we've got a home game tonight and the ideal opportunity to get back on the winning trail."

Glen Little again misses the game and Burnley may be unchanged if Graham Branch, offered a deal by Crewe before joining the Clarets from Stockport, continues up front with Andy Payton.

Reports again linking Burnley with a move for Nicky Daws are wide of the mark with no prospect of the Bury midfielder linking up again with Clarets boss Stan Ternent.

Burnley from: Michopoulos, Weller, Briscoe, Cox, Davis, Thomas, Cook, Ball, Mellon, Payton, Branch, Mullin, Robinson, Johnrose, Armstrong, Cooke, Jepson, Crichton.

Crewe from: Kearton, Maybury, Macauley, Sodje, Smith, Wright, Lunt, Sorvel, Street, Little, Rivers, Hulse, Cramb, Ashton, Bankole, Trainer, Howell, Walker.