INJURED Clarets wingman Graham Branch expects to be "flying" when Burnley begin their preparations for another crack at promotion from Division One.

Branch missed the final month of the season after tearing the medial ligament in a knee during Burnley's derby defeat at Blackburn Rovers.

That meant seven weeks in a cast-brace to support the injury but that was removed on Monday and Branch has now been given the green light to step up his comeback fight.

"I went to see the specialist and he was happy with the way it's gone," Branch revealed.

"I've had the cast off and it's two months' work now to build it back up. I'm not bothered about that at all. I've had a little break and I want to get to it.

"I've been in the pool and I think I'm ready to step it up a few notches. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I will be doing some running and in the meantime I'll just be building up the knee."

And Branch has vowed to come back firing on all cylinders after his summer of hard labour.

"I don't like missing any games anyway. I enjoyed my football this season and to miss the last eight games was a bit of a downer," he added.

"I was feeling a bit left out but the lads did very well at the end to finish seventh and to just miss out on the play-offs by a couple of points. I would have been devastated to have missed those but now I'll be trying to get ready for next season.

"By the time pre-season starts I should be flying with all this work and I'm looking forward to getting started."

Branch started 30 games for the Clarets before disaster struck at Ewood Park and looked at home back on the First Division stage as he played in defence, midfield and as a central striker, bagging five goals along the way.

"I always knew I was good enough, it was just about getting the consistency there in my game," said the former Tranmere and Stockport man.

Branch believes Burnley can mount another top-six challenge next season.

He added: "I think the gaffer is after a few more players and as a squad I think we will go a lot further.

"People are always a bit sceptical (after promotion) and think are we good enough as a squad and as a team?

"But we have proved that. We had a bit of a dodgy patch either side of Christmas but we came through that and just missed out on the play-offs.

"There were some good teams below us and we beat some good sides, like Fulham. We played well and with a couple more players I think we will do very well."

Meanwhile, Burnley have promised a "major announcement" at a social function for members of the Clarets Foundation in Colne next Thursday night.