DANNY Ings believes he has come back stronger from his hamstring injury with his stop-start season now in full flow.

The 22-year-old striker failed to find the back of the net in the Premier League games against Chelsea, Swansea and Manchester United at the start of the season, and then suffered the injury in the first half of the 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace on September 13.

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Ings was booked for diving three minutes into that game and the injury seemed to cap a disappointing start to life in the top flight for last season’s 26-goal top scorer.

The injury kept him out for five weeks and he missed the games against Sunderland, West Brom and Leicester, as well as England Under 21s Euro 2015 play-off with Croatia.

But since returning against West Ham on October 18 Ings has looked sharp and full of confidence, something he is putting down to his enforced break.

“I think I have probably come back stronger for my hamstring injury,” he said.

“I spent a lot of time in the gym. I feel full of confidence right now, and I think the team does as well.”

Ings scored his first Premier League goal at Turf Moor against Everton a week after his return, rounding Tim Howard to slot home after Lukas Jutkiewicz’s through ball.

Last week he scored twice at his home ground for the U21s, as they beat Portugal 3-1, and he was unfortunate not to find the net in the Clarets 1-0 win over Hull.

During that game he tried his luck from inside his own half, with Steve Harper out of his goal, and although his ambitious effort drifted wide, had it been on target it would have almost certainly caught Harper out.

“That showed the confidence I have at the moment,” said Ings.

“I just need to take that into the games coming up.

“I knew goals wouldn’t come as frequently in the Premier League, chances are harder to come by, so it is important when you do get opportunities you take them.”

It was Ashley Barnes header that secured the Clarets first win of the season against Hull, and Ings said the squad knew how important it was to end their search for a win in that fixture.

On Saturday Burnley head to Stoke City, and even though they are still bottom of the league, the win two weekends ago has breathed new life into the Clarets bid for survival, and Ings said they will travel to the Potteries full of belief.

“We said before the Hull game that it was important to get that first win,” he said, “and we did that in a very good performance as well.

“You are happier when you are winning games, it gives us a lot of confidence.”