JON Harley has urged Burnley to use their impressive FA Cup performance to get their Championship season back on track.

The Clarets, who only four weeks ago were just one point off the play-off positions, have slipped from seventh to 12th after picking up just two points from a possible 18 since mid-December.

But after putting Arsenal under real pressure in their third round showdown at Turf Moor, Harley is confident the squad still has what it takes to mount a push for the top six this season.

And he believes the prospect of playing sides like the Gunners every week is a massive incentive in making the Premier League a realistic target.

"We felt we'd gone out there and done ourselves justice against Arsenal, but obviously the results a bit unfortunate," said full back Harley.

"Everyone in the dressing room enjoyed every minute of it though, and they are the sort of games you want week in, week out.

"That's the level that we all want to be at week in, week out, so that's something to strive for.

"We'll look at the result and it will be frustrating, but if we can take the positives out of it - and there were a lot - it's important that we do try to build on that and take that form into the league, which is an integral part for us for this season.

"We've shown in some of the games since the manager's taken over how we can play. Yet again on Sunday we showed exactly what we can do, and it's important that we do try to carry that form on.

"We went at Arsenal, but those are our tactics; that's how we do like to try to play anyway.

"We knew we had to take something to them and to be fair we did ourselves justice. It could have been a different story if Kyle's header had gone in but we're all coming away with positive feelings from the game.

"We've shown (against Arsenal) we can do it, we've shown in previous games we can as well. We've obviously dipped off a little bit of late but maybe this was the lift we needed and it's important we do try to kick-on from now."

Meanwhile, Harley, whose current Clarets contract expires in the summer, admitted he is enjoying his from back page football and not fretting over the prospect of where his future might lie.

After finding himself out of former manager Steve Cotterill's plans at the start of the season, following the summer capture of Stephen Jordan, he has benefited from something of a renaissance under new boss Owen Coyle and has starred at left back, as well as an unfamilar central midfield role in recent weeks.

"I'm enjoying it. Obviously it's frustrating being out of the team, and I just think getting back into the team I realise that if I don't perform I will be out," said the 28-year-old. "That's all there is to it.

"It's horrible being a footballer and not playing. During my career, in my early years especially, that was what was happening a lot. I never want that to happen again and that's why it's important for me to take every game as though it is my last game."

Contract negotiations have yet to take place between Harley and Burnley, but Harley added: "As long as I am playing, I'm happy. In many respects I'm in the shop window at the moment because I don't know if I'm staying or going. Nothing has been said on the contract but that seems to be a fact of life outside the Premier League. But I'm happy because I'm playing.

"I feel confident. Everyone's got their own opinion but I'm enjoying it at the moment, I feel I'm playing okay so I just want to try to stay in the team."