MIRACLE man Wayne Thomas is ready to step back into the breach whenever Steve Cotterill calls.

The Burnley defender has made a stunning recovery from the cruciate knee injury suffered at Reading in August, which looked to have ended his season just six games after joining the Clarets in a summer switch from Stoke City.

Thomas was given a rousing Turf Moor reception when he appeared as a substitute for the final few minutes of Saturday's 4-1 thumping of Watford.

And with the Potters next up to face the Clarets on Boxing Day, his return to bolster the Clarets squad could not have been better timed.

However, the 26-year-old stopper insists he is happy to bide his time until boss Cotterill lets him off the leash.

"I've worked hard to get myself fit again and hopefully I can now try to get myself into the side, although that might be difficult because the team is doing so well," said Thomas.

"Having a virtually full strength squad is a nice situation for the gaffer to be in because he's rarely had that all season, but it means every player coming back from injury, and even the lads sat on the bench, have to be patient because those lads who have the 11 shirts are doing so well.

"I certainly wasn't expecting to be in contention again so early, so I just have to be patient.

"The way I see it any action I see before next season is a bonus, so it's up to me to work hard in training and if I can nick a game here and there, whenever the gaffer needs me, that is more than enough."

Thomas thanked Burnley's unsung medical team for working like trojans behind the scenes to drive him back into the first team frame.

And he insisted the cheers he received from 13,000 supporters at Turf Moor last weekend was also the prefect pick-me-up in time for Christmas.

"I got a fantastic reception from the fans at the weekend and it was very much appreciated," added the central defender.

"I think that is the first game since I was 15 or 16 where I have felt nervous coming on and it was a little bit daunting, but it felt great to be back.

"I fully expected to be out for the season when I went to have the operation. But the surgeon said that the knee was stable and he wouldn't operate on it.

"He told me to get back to full fitness and see how it went and I couldn't believe him to be honest. I know it's a weird situation but apparently the ligament has re-attached itself and I am told that can occasionally happen.

"I do feel very lucky and hopefully now it will remain stable. But even if you have a cruciate reconstructed there is nothing to say it won't go again, so hopefully the leg will be stronger because I wasn't operated on."