DANNY Ings described his first goal of the season as a box ticked.

Scoring in the 2-2 draw with today’s opponents, Birmingham City, just before Christmas was a significant step for the forward after his second bout of knee surgery.

But the hungry youngster is determined to make even more marks on Burnley’s season, as the Clarets look to continue their climb up the Championship ladder.

Ings was played largely out wide when he earned his place in the starting XI last month.

After his return to fitness coincided with the departure of manager Eddie Howe, who had brought him to Burnley 14 months early, he had bided his time on the bench after being reintroduced to the squad under the caretaker watch of Terry Pashley.

Ings feels he is thriving in the hole.

“It’s going really well, on a personal note as well as a team note,” he said.

“We’re on a good little run now and we’re building on things and working hard and getting results,” said the 20-year-old “When I first came back in I tended to play sometimes in the hole and sometimes our wide – it was just fitting into those roles – but at the moment I’m playing in the hole and I feel like I’m getting better and better each game.

“I like creating chances for myself and other players and I feel like, in that position, it brings out the best in me to do that.”

Of his goal against Birmingham at St Andrew’s, Ings added: “I had chances in that game and I thought this might not be the day but I managed to get one in the end and I was over the moon.”

The former Bournemouth striker’s second came in last weekend’s 2-0 win at Millwall.

“I had loads of chances on Saturday, I could have got a hat-trick, but I was happy that I got the goal and even more happy that we got the three points,” he said.

“I just need to go on a run now and get as many as I can.”