BURNLEY defender Ian Cox admitted that the team has missed the creative talents of Glen Little and Alan Moore but he insisted: "Our squad is strong enough to cope."

The current run of one point from four games has coincided with injuries to the two wide men. Moore will definitely miss tomorrow's clash with Barnsley at Turf Moor but Little is hoping to be fit enough for inclusion in the squad.

"Glen and Alan are both very creative players and when they are not in the team we do miss them," said Cox. "But we have got a good squad here and once anyone is not fit we can bring someone in to do a job."

And despite the recent run he stressed: "This is still a very exciting time for the club. The place is buzzing. We are still in the top three and the next few matches will be very important."

Cox himself has missed a few matches this season, out for six games with tendonitis, and he was back for the narrow defeats against West Brom and Forest.

In both matches he started alongside Arthur Gnohere and Steve Davis in a back three and he explained: "I really don't mind what formation we play, it is just great to be back. I am getting fitter all the time and am almost 100 per cent again.

"It has been a trying time for myself and it is just really good to be back in the frame."

Tomorrow's match at Turf Moor will be his first at home since the defeat by Manchester City in August and the first for the team since the thrilling draw with Crewe almost a month ago.

"It is going to be nice to get back on to home soil," said Cox. "We will be in familiar surroundings and we have to try and start getting some points back on the board.

"We have just not had the rub of the green and we have to get back to basics. We have not played very, very we but the recent matches have not been the easiest of games.

"We can't put our finger on why the goals have dried up, it is one of those things. I think that having scored a lot teams are maybe defending deeper, they are more resolute.

"All we can do is work hard, stick together and put things right on the pitch. We must go out there, get our heads down and do what we were doing in the early part of the season."

Last Saturday's defeat was a particular blow for the 30-year-old as it was off his leg that Chris Bart-Williams' shot deflected for the only goal.

"As a defender I love to come off the pitch with a clean sheet and I thought we would get one at Forest," he said. "personally it was very, very disappointing to see the ball go in.

"It his my leg and I turned round to see the ball going one way and Nik (Michopoulos) the other."

Cox feels that bad break typified the way things have gone in recent weeks but he reiterated: "We all know nothing comes easy. If you want to reap the rewards then you have to work hard."

For Cox and co that hard work continues with the visit of Barnsley and he hopes that the efforts on the training ground this week will be rewarded with all three points.

Meanwhile the club has announced that the postponed match against Watford will take place at Turf Moor on Tuesday November 13, kick off 7.45pm.

The match had been scheduled for the start of this month was but was put back because of international call-ups to Gianluca Vialli's squad.