LOAN ace Eric Djemba-Djemba admits he would love to return to Turf Moor next season, and help Burnley push for promotion.

The Aston Villa midfielder, who joined the Clarets in Januar on loan until the end of the season, believes the club has enough quality within the squad to mount a bid for the Premiership next term.

The 26-year-old revealed he had a debt of gratitude to the club that rescued him from his Premiership wilderness and had thanked manager Steve Cotterill for giving him the opportunity to play regular first-team football - something he had suffered a shortage of since joining Villa from Manchester United for £1.35 million in January 2005 - and said the reception he received from Burnley supporters was something he would never forget.

And while he admits he would prefer to play Premiership football, he insisted that he hadn't given up hope of returning to Turf Moor.

"Maybe I could come back. Why not?" said the Cameroon international.

"I've enjoyed my football. Every player needs to play, and to be a good player and to be a fit player you need to play regular football.

"It was very frustrating for me not to play many games at Aston Villa but now I've had a chance to play and I'm very happy with that.

"I am very thankful to Steve Cotterill and Burnley for giving me the opportunity. I can't forget that."

He added: "If I get the opportunity to go to the Premiership it would be good for me. But if Aston Villa don't want to keep me I don't want to go back there and not play football.

"So if Burnley are willing to keep me it would be good for me to stay because the lads in the dressing room are fantastic.

"Everyone is fantastic with me here.

"I would have no problem in staying.

"Since I came here and when I saw the manager he impressed me with what Burnley are trying to do. The team could go into the Premiership. You can see in the last six games we've played, we've played very well, we're passing very well and to beat teams like Birmingham and West Brom, we can do that next season.

"We have good players and I think I can help them to get into the Premiership.

"It would be nice to be a part of that so we will wait and see what happens in the summer."

Burnley boss Cotterill confirmed that he was still waiting for confirmation from Villa boss Martin O'Neill about his plans for Djemba-Djemba.

"Sometimes when you phone Martin he gets back to you a couple of days later. They've still got their season so we'll just wait and see with that one," he said.

"We've enjoyed Eric Djemba-Djemba from the minute he walked through the door.

"I think he's been really first class.

"Just coming off at the end (of the game) he said I want to thank you for what you've done for me'.

"I guess you could pretty much guess what I said to him ... thanks for what he's done for us."