DANNY Coyne believes injuries prevented Burnley from seeing the best of him.

The frustrated goalkeeper was this week released by the Clarets after a three-year spell that was blighted by a serious hamstring injury in his first season, followed by a cruciate knee ligament injury that forced him to miss the majority of the 2005/06 season. That, in turn, impacted on his progress this term.

The Wales stopper even considered a loan move before getting his first start at the end of November in a 2-1 win over Leeds United.

But he suffered an injury setback and didn't return to the side until February, when he started a run of seven games in goal before being rested on his return from international duty at the end of March.

And Coyne admitted that, while he has enjoyed his involvement with the Burnley squad over the last three seasons, it has been the most frustrating period of his career.

"On the playing side it hasn't been great for me because I've had a couple of injuries. It's been very stop-start," said the 33-year-old, who has been linked with summer moves to Championship rivals Norwich City and Sheffield Wednesday.

"It's never nice to leave a club, especially in that situation where I've not had time to prove to the fans that I can play and do a job for them.

"But these things happen sometimes in football. Before I came to Burnley I was an ever present at Grimbsy for four years.

"In my first season at Burnley I was doing well and started the season conceding hardly any goals, but about 16 games in I got injured and it's been very frustrating ever since.

"But the club's been great and I've really enjoyed my time there with the lads. It was a really good atmosphere."

Now Coyne is desperate to put his injury nightmares behind him and secure regular first team football in an effort to stay at the forefront of Wales manager John Toshack's list of goalkeepers.

"We've got two big games coming up with New Zealand and the Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium and hopefully I can be involved in the two games," he said.

"You can never take a position like that for granted. You need to be on top of your form.

"Darren Ward has just retired from international football but we've got Lewis Price, from Ipswich, and Wayne Hennessy back at Wolves."

And despite being kept out of Burnley's starting line-up by Brian Jensen for the final eight games of the season, Coyne insists he enjoyed a running battle with the Danish stopper.

"We had a great relationship. We got on really well and played off each other in training," the former Tranmere goalkeeper said.

"The gaffer picked the team at the end of the day and whoever's playing you want them to do well.

"We were battling for a number one shirt, and I wish Brian all the best."

Meanwhile, defender Frank Sinclair, who was also released by Burnley this week, was today expected to sign a one-year contract with a one-year option at Huddersfield.

The former Chelsea and Leicester ace had been on loan with the League One club since early February.