DAVID Nugent wants to continue his fine scoring run against Burnley and derail his former club’s promotion hopes today.

The Clarets travel to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City in a top of the table clash at 12.15pm, and will go head to head with a striker who has been a constant thorn in their side since a loan spell at Turf Moor four seasons ago.

Nugent still has fond memories of his loan spell at Burnley during the club’s Premier League season, but has done little to help them out since then – scoring four goals in six matches against the Clarets.

“I have a good record against them,” the 28-year-old admitted.

“I always seem to score against my former clubs so hopefully that can continue.”

Leicester sit third in the table, having been tipped by many to compete for automatic promotion this season.

Few expected Burnley to be in their current position at the top of the table – one point ahead of the Foxes.

Leicester travel to second-placed QPR next weekend and Nugent believes the next few matches, starting against Burnley today, could have a large bearing on the promotion race.

But he has seen enough of the Clarets to think they can last the pace.

“I can’t see why they can’t carry it on, they have lasted this long,” he said.

“They have done ever so well. No-one expected them to be up there at this stage of the season.

“They have lost Charlie Austin, but fair play to Danny Ings and Sam Vokes who have come up with the goods and scored the goals which have fired them up there. Deservedly so.

“It is always the Christmas period which defines your season because there are so many games in a short space of time.

“After that period people will look at where you are in the table and if you are doing well people will expect you to keep that going into the second half of the season.

“We know it is a big period coming up and if we can do well I am sure we can get one of those top two spots.”

And Nugent believes his loan spell at Burnley helped to restore his confidence, having fallen out of the first-team picture at Portsmouth.

“I loved my time there, playing week in and week out in the Premier League against some of the best players in the world,” he said.

“Obviously it didn’t end well getting relegated but it was a time where I wasn’t playing at Portsmouth, I was struggling and Burnley gave me that chance.

“I got my confidence back playing regularly. I think I am a better player for that.”