BURNLEY manager Steve Cotterill believes Graham Alexander will benefit from the feelgood factor of his international success.

The Clarets' newest recruit is set for his Turf Moor debut against Blackpool today after playing his part in Scotland's stunning 1-0 win over France, to go top of Group B in their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

But while Cotterill expects Alexander to be on the crest of a wave after containing Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery in his left back role in Paris, he is also keen to ensure Northern Ireland trio Michael Duff, Kyle Lafferty and Steve Jones bounce back from the disappointment of back-to-back defeats against Latvia and Iceland.

"I would rather Graham played on Saturday than Wednesday from a selfish point of view as manager of Burnley Football Club, but, having said that, if you give Graham the opportunity, it would have to be the France game he wanted to play in," Cotterill said.

"All in all, I'm glad he's played one of the games, that's important that he's opened his heart and his lungs like the other boys have on Monday in the reserves.

"When he didn't get in the team on Saturday, I didn't quite know what to read into that, but now he's been in the team, I'm delighted for him.

"I think he will be full of beans, but I said to the players, when we welcome the international boys back, we've got to make sure that by the time we leave training on Friday, the Northern Ireland boys are in the same fettle as Graham Alexander is.

"They can quite easily come back with a spring in their step when things have gone right for them, and they've gone on a great run in this campaign, so we will now maybe see them in a different ilk, and we've got to make sure they're up to our mental standards.

"I'm sure the boys will deliver that in their own manner."

Cotterill added that he was not surprised how well Alexander slotted into an unfamiliar left back role against France.

"So much for signing that recognised right back!" the Burnley boss quipped.

"Good players are good players. Wherever I play Graham Alexander at the moment, he'll play well. He's in that good performance mode, and I'm really hoping he gets a fantastic reception here (today), because it was a big decision for him to make (to sign), especially as captain of Preston.

"We're absolutely delighted to have him. I thought, for 70 minutes he was absolutely superb against Colchester, and he's promised not to get cramp again!"