JOHN Spicer is ready to fight for his place in the Burnley first team and earn a new contract in the process.

After some solid performances in October and November, the midfielder's season has since been blighted by injury and suspension.

His comeback, from an ankle problem, against Ipswich Town was marred by a first-half red card for his challenge on Jon Walters, but the 24-year-old is aiming to force his way back into Owen Coyle's first team plans and secure his future with the Clarets.

"I've served my three-match suspension now and the only positive to take is that I only missed one week, with the games coming so quickly," said Spicer, whose three-year deal runs out in the summer.

"I am in my last season here and so I need to get back in the team and work towards hopefully earning a new contract.

"You can't do that sat on the bench or in the stands.

"The chance will come somewhere along the line and it's all about taking it."

Although he missed out on facing his former club, Arsenal, in the FA Cup third round, Spicer has come a long way from last season.

Despite scoring one of the goals of the campaign after coming off the bench to hit the winner at Birmingham in April, as Burnley came out of a 19-game winless slump with a vengeance, all 11 of the former Bournemouth midfielder's appearances were made as a substitute.

But after making his first star of this season in the 2-2 draw at home to Ipswich, with Graham Alexander reverting to a more familiar right back position with Michael Duff ruled out with cruciate knee ligament damage, Spicer went on to become one of Burnley's most consistent performers on an eight-game run alongside both Alan Mahon and Chris McCann in central midfield.

His progress was curtailed through an ankle injury he sustained at Leicester City.

But the Romford-born star is now ready to pick up where he left.

"This season I have enjoyed it a lot more because I've been playing. I feel I started well and grabbed my chance," said Spicer, who could get his chance for this weekend's home game against Plymouth Argyle with both Chris McCann and Kyle Lafferty suspended.

"Getting injured at Leicester in early December set me back, and then the sending off at Ipswich near the end of the month was a big blow.

"When I saw that red card, I couldn't believe my luck. I'd just got back in the team and I was back to square one again.

"You just have to take it on the chin though and look to fight back again."