INJURED captain Steven Caldwell says he faces a fight to regain his first team place once he is back to full fitness.

The Burnley defender is hoping to resume full training next week for the first time since a torn thigh tendon forced him out of the 3-2 home defeat to Southampton at the end of October.

However, with David Unsworth forging a solid partnership with Clarke Carlisle at the heart of the defence, and scoring the opener in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Leicester City to keep the Clarets unbeaten under Owen Coyle, Caldwell accepts he cannot take his position for granted.

And he is preparing to do all he can to impress the new manager.

"The lads have done fantastic, and the manner in which we achieved both results at Watford and Charlton is very important," said Caldwell.

"We're playing with a certain spring in our step just now, and long may that continue.

"It will be a tough task to force myself back into the team, but it's up to me to fight for my place.

"When I'm back fit I'll be chomping at the bit to get back in the team and when an opportunity arises I'll make sure I'm 100 per cent ready and fit."

Caldwell was advised not to make the two trips to London last week in an effort to aid his rehabilitation, and he admitted while he was disappointed not to be involved in back-to-back wins against two of the Championship's promotion favourites, he has no complaints with the five-game unbeaten run his team-mates have put together without him.

"It's a squad game and I'm 100 per cent behind what's best for Burnley Football Club," he said.

"It's a hard league, and when you're in a purple patch, you've got to enjoy it and try to stay in it for as long as possible and make the most of it.

"Games are coming thick and fast, and looking at the games it's devastating I'm missing another. It's difficult, but I will get there in the end and hopefully be fresh and play the majority of games after that."

Caldwell has not earmarked a specific game for a possible comeback but is hoping to be fighting fit in plenty of time for Burnley's mouthwatering FA Cup third round clash at home to Arsenal on January 6.

"I'm really excited and looking forward to having Arsenal come to our ground," said the former Newcastle and Sunderland stopper.

"They are top of the Premier League just now and playing some unbelievable stuff, so it will be really exciting. But first and foremost we'll be concentrating on some very important league games.

"I'm at the last stages with the injury. It's very frustrating for me, especially this time I feel I can almost be there, but I have to be patient and make sure my leg's 100 per cent right because the most important thing is that I don't have a setback.

"I'm the type of person to push things and play with bits of aches and pains. I've always been like that.

"I'm listening to the professionals' advice; I know I've not got to let my heart rule my head. It's been so long now that another few days won't do any harm.

"I'm pushing it to the highest level that I can with the physio, it's just about knowing it (the tendon) can handle the workload of going back into training.

"I've not put a date on anything since I've been injured, and I still don't want to, but I hope to be training with the lads by the end of this week or next week."