Lincoln City v Burnley - Pete Oliver's big match preview

ANYONE looking to include Burnley's result on their betting coupon this weekend could do with some inside knowledge as to how Steve Morgan's feeling.

If anyone's fortunes have mirrored that of the Clarets then it has to be Morgan who, like the team, is currently having his best spell of the season.

Just as things conspired against him earlier in the campaign, when he underwent a knee operation and was sent off at Bournemouth early in his comeback, Burnley struggled.

But since he returned to the left-back spot on Boxing Day, Stan Ternent's side has lost just once in six games - a run they will be bidding to extend at lowly Lincoln City tomorrow.

Several others, including big-money buys Steve Davis and Micky Mellon, have played their part in the revival but Morgan has been as quietly efficient as anyone else - winning the fans over into the bargain.

"I think it's because I am getting a few games under my belt at the moment and hopefully I am getting over my injury problems and getting stronger and more confident," Morgan explained.

The 30-year-old former Blackpool, Plymouth and Coventry defender was one of Ternent's first signings after spending pre-season on trial at Turf Moor as he tried to re-establish a career that had ground to a halt at Wigan.

"I was a bit gutted to get the injury so early on in the season.

"Previously I have been out with injuries with my Achilles tendon so I wanted to come here and start off really well but it didn't really turn out that way," admitted Morgan, who required surgery on a knee injury he sustained four games into the season. His return at the end of October extended to just five games - four of which were defeats - before he was dismissed at Bournemouth while trying too hard to stiffen up an under-strength midfield.

The former England youth international might have slipped away from the first team picture at that point but Ternent always felt he needed longer to recover fully from his long spell on the sidelines.

And after replacing John O'Kane in a side that has been revitalised by Ternent's ability to spend some money, Morgan hasn't looked back.

"Since getting over the operation on my knee I feel as though I've done okay," he added.

"We've had injury problems all season and the manager had to put the youngsters in.

"They did well but now he's got most of his injuries back and bought wisely, good players, and got some experience in the side.

"You feel a lot more confident about winning games.

"The back line had been chopped and changed and obviously you don't seem to get settled.

"But we seem to be settling down nicely now and we are getting quite strong.

"I think we are starting to play well and play some good football. I think teams are finding it harder to break us down and the front two are scoring goals, so it's great."

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