BURNLEY manager Steve Cotterill has praised Wayne Thomas for recovering from a nightmare beginning to his Burnley career to become a defensive rock.

The former Stoke stopper suffered cruciate knee ligament damage in his first season at Turf Moor and then, after being named captain last summer, was sent off twice in five outings, against Hartlepool in the Carling Cup in August and then after just 16 minutes in the league defeat at home to Southampton the following month.

January signing Steven Caldwell replaced him as skipper soon after joining the Clarets, and with the burden of responsibility lifted, Thomas has played a vital part in helping Burnley turn their season around.

The 27-year-old has established a solid partnership with Caldwell since returning to the heart of defence five games, and Cotterill feels it has been no coincidence that clean sheets were kept in four of those.

"I think Thommo's ended up being the player that I signed him for," the Burnley boss said.

"I know he can do the things he's done in the last few games, he's taken no chances, he's defended first and foremost, and has earned rave reviews.

"He was one of our best players again on Saturday, I thought against Birmingham he was unbelievable and we're looking for him to have another good game against Norwich, him and Steven Caldwell, at the heart of the defence, backed up by Michael Duff and Jon Harley, and obviously Brian Jensen in behind them."

Their sequence of four consecutive clean sheets, against Luton, Plymouth, Birmingham and Cardiff, was only broken by Leeds defender Matt Heath's header from a corner at Elland Road on Saturday.

And although Cotterill was frustrated that Dennis Wise's men were able to capitalise on a set-piece, he admitted he had few causes for complaint with his defence.

"In free play we've done really well. Teams are going to score from a corner against you, and you're very fussy about it when one is scored against you, but you don't mind scoring one yourself," he said.

"We've been delighted with how the back four and goalkeeper have been over the last five games, even if you take into consideration the defeat at the weekend.

"When you look at Cresswell, Healy, Blake, Lewis, they didn't really cause us a problem."

He added: "Wayne's got another year on his contract, and what you want is him to come back and start next season like he's finishing this one.

"He had a bad start to his career here with his knee injury, and this season it all seemed to go wrong for him when he had two sending-offs.

"Since he's come back in the team, he's looked fit and strong, and the only thing that's missing from his play at the moment is a goal at the other end, because he's got a goal in him.

"But I've been delighted with him and for him."