MICHAEL Duff is relishing his first team return after a seven-month injury hell.

The Burnley defender has not made an appearance since suffering multiple knee ligament damage in September, ironically against tomorrow's opponents Crystal Palace.

But Duff, who has been named on the bench in the last three games against Sheffield United, Southampton and Cardiff is looking forward to putting it all behind him at Selhurst Park, after manager Owen Coyle revealed his plans to start the Northern Ireland international in the final game of the 2007-08 campaign.

"I'm looking forward to it now. The end of the season has come at the wrong time for me though," he said.

"It's been a long season and I'm sure the lads will want it to finish, but coming from where I've come from I'm looking forward to the game.

"I've been on the bench for a couple of games so it's been nice to be involved in the warm-ups and the build-up to the game in the dressing rooms, which a lot of people don't see. But it gets quite intense and gets the fire back in the belly, and I'm just looking forward to tomorrow now."

Duff has previously explained how "ticking boxes" has helped him through his recovery process.

Making his first team return is one of the last in a long list of targets, but staying in Coyle's plans is his ultimate aim, alongside his Northern Ireland comeback.

"Nigel Worthington rang me yesterday just to check on how I am, which was nice," said Duff.

"Hopefully I can come back firing next season, get myself in the gaffer's thoughts and take it from there."

He added that his anticipated return against Palace was just a coincidence.

"It's strange because we played them at the start of the season and now we're at the end of the season," he said. "It's no significance really, I'm just looking forward to playing a game."

And the 30-year-old reiterated his appreciation of the work physio Andy Mitchell has done in restoring him to full fitness, and hailed him as one of the best in the business.

"I had a lot of respect for Mitch anyway because I knew him at Cheltenham," said Duff. "I've known him for 10 years now and I can't really speak highly enough of him.

"In terms of the best in the country, I think Mitch has got to be up there.

"He is top drawer. I owe him a lot.

"It was potentially a career-ending injury. I haven't come back yet but I've got a lot to thank him for, and he knows that."