JAMES O'Connor has urged Burnley's midfielders to help ease the burden on loan striker Michael Ricketts.

The Clarets midfield had been a rich source of goals this season until they dried up in January, coinciding with the sale of Ade Akinbiyi to Sheffield United in January.

Since then, only temporary replacement Ricketts has got his name on the scoresheet, scoring twice in four starts since his arrival from Leeds United.

And despite the play-offs now looking a long shot, midfield terrier O'Connor believes the rest of the squad need to start chipping in quickly to keep Burnley's season alive.

He said: "It's become a bit of a transitional period since Ade has gone. We are trying to get to know the way Michael likes to play, and also Gifton to an extent.

"The onus is definitely on the team though, not just the strikers. It's a team game and the defenders and especially the midfielders have to chip in with the goals."

The Clarets midfield has contributed a creditable 21 of Burnley's 47 goals, with Garreth O'Connor still leading the way on eight.

However, since the former Bournemouth player found the net in the FA Cup defeat at Derby on January 7, the engine room's tally has ground to a halt.

Namesake James, who has three goals to his name, added: "Michael is the only player to score for us in the last six weeks and that tells its own story.

"But I am sure we can put things together and go on some sort of run between now and the end of the season.

"I don't know where that will take us, but it's been a frustrating time that we can trace back to Boxing Day, after we beat Stoke.

"But all the big clubs still have to come to Burnley and we are still playing for pride and position.

"Nobody is going to give up and if we could go on a run, you never know where we can end up.

"You would have to say that having lost the last two games it will be an uphill task to make the play-offs, but that doesn't mean you stop trying to win every game between now and the end of the season.

"On our day we are a match for most teams in this division and all we need is more consistency and perhaps more strength in depth.

"But we are what we are and all we can do is get our heads down between now and the end of the season and try to give the fans something to shout about."