Ex-strike partner Thompson has faith in Clarets star (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Ex-strike partner Thompson has faith in Clarets star

8:12am Friday 7th September 2012 in Sport By Chris Flanagan, Sports reporter

MARTIN Paterson has been tipped by former team-mate Steven Thompson to return to the form that once saw him near 20 goals for the Clarets .

Burnley have been on the look-out for attacking reinforcements since Danny Ings suffered a second knee injury in 12 months.

But Thompson is confident that Paterson, who hit 19 goals in his first season with Burnley, is all they need in their quest to climb up the Championship if they can keep him clear of the injuries that have hampered him in recent times.

“If you put him up front with a target man type of player, with his movement Martin will get you 20 goals a season and not only that his work from the front defensively for the rest of the team is superb,” said the Scot, who joined St Mirren after leaving Turf Moor in 2011.

“Pato was a dream to play up front with – a really helpful considerate player to play alongside.”

However, Thompson is mindful of the need to keep Paterson fit.

The former Scunthorpe top scored with 19 goals in the Clarets’ promotion season of 2008/09 but has struggled with injuries over the last three years.

Indeed, this term got off to a false start with Paterson suffering a slight hamstring problem in a goalscoring performance against Bolton Wanderers on the opening day.

The 25-year-old made a comeback from the bench against Brighton – Burnley’s last game before the international break.

With question marks over his fitness manager Eddie Howe looked to add attacking reinforcements before the transfer deadline closed, and remains in the market for a striker when the loan window

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