I AM feeling very grumpy about my football this week. To the extent that I sat here for some time before feeling in the right frame of mind to put pen to paper.

We are still losing games, shipping goals and putting in under-par performances.

We are still lacking in confidence, losing all of our players to injury and seem incapable of finding some momentum to create clear-cut chances.

We are still making stupid mistakes.

Ashley Barnes is the latest injury blow, it being confirmed this week that he is in need of a hernia operation that will rule him out for at least a month.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson has been side-lined with a recurring hamstring problem and Robbie Brady has a ‘niggle’ on his calf. On top of all of that, Danny Drinkwater has gone back to Chelsea (or was he sent back … I lost track).

It is little wonder that Sean Dyche could only name defenders and youth players on the bench for last weekend’s game against Chelsea.

I know we shouldn’t really be that concerned about a loss away at one of the traditional top six sides.

It was always going to be a free hit and even a Burnley side riding high in confidence and playing the best they can do will find it tough to get those kind of points.

I think the reason for my sulk this week is down to our inability to find a window to pull ourselves out of this. Oh how we really could do with a run of winnable games to get us back on track.

Is this weekend the chance we need?

On paper, it doesn’t look like it, as Leicester are riding high this season and look like being a side to finally break into that top six club.

Except they haven’t looked as sharp recently – a few national media outlets have noted their lack of swagger in recent games. Dropping points to Southampton and Villa have shown us that there is a vulnerability to their game that our boys, in their right frame of mind, can exploit.

The key question is how we line up without our Ashley.

I presume that Dyche will stick with his trusted 4-4-2 and put Jay in at starting line-up, but that of course reinforces the apparent lack of faith he has in Matej Vydra’s ability to perform at this level.

The ironic cheers for Vydra at the Peterborough and Chelsea games certainly let the board know what the fans feel about the need for freshness in the squad. If he does go in January, and I certainly have some sympathy if the reports of his desire to leave are true, then I cannot help but feel that was an opportunity lost.

Regardless of what January has in store, I will be putting my lucky pants on, turning up at Turf Moor on Sunday and lifting our boys to the heavens. I invite you to join me.