DANNY Ings hopes signing off a difficult season with a goal is a good omen for the next campaign.

The striker admitted he wasn't ready for the fixture list to run out at the weekend, after only breaking into the side in February following injury.

The 19-year-old faced an agonising six-month spell on the sidelines after suffering cruciate knee ligament damage at the end of only his second training session – just days after signing from Bournemouth.

But Ings hopes the impact he has made since returning to fitness – scoring three goals in 15 games, including Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Bristol City – can give him a headstart for next season now that he has had a taste of the Championship.

“It’s been frustrating for me as I’ve had most of the season out but I’m delighted with how I came back and hopefully I can build on that,” he said.

“Hopefully for the times I’ve played I’ve showed what I’m capable of.

“I’m gutted the season’s finished as I feel it has just started. But I’ve got time off to get my knee stronger and hopefully I can come back fitter, stronger and faster. Who knows what can happen next year?”

Ings could not have wished to end in more spectacular fashion personally, breaking the deadlock with a stunning 25-yard hit.

With no goalkeeper on the bench, defender Liam Fontaine was the man between the sticks at the time, after veteran David James hobbled off with what appeared to be a hamstring problem.

But even the former England stopper would have struggled to keep the ball out.

“David James wouldn’t have stopped it, I think there was too much power on it,” smiled Ings.

“It was one of those where as soon as it leaves your foot, you’ve got half a chance of it going in.

“It was a good clean strike and I was delighted that it went in.”

And Ings, who joined the Clarets in a deal worth around £1million in August, said scoring again at Turf Moor was an added bonus.

“I think it's been frustrating for the fans with me because I've had most of the season out. But I'm delighted with the way it's gone and the way I've come back and got a few goals under my belt,” he said.

“Hopefully I can take that into next season.”

For now, though, the hard-working front man is planning a well-earned rest, after putting his knee through the mill to get back to fitness.

“I’ll have about three weeks off when I rest up, then I’ll really push myself hard in the gym. But I’ve not been feeling my knee,” he said.

“It’s way ahead of schedule and feeling nice and smooth.”