DEFENDER Michael Duff is ready to write off an injury-plagued season and begin a new chapter in his Burnley career.

The 30-year-old spent much of the 2007-08 campaign on the sidelines after suffering multiple knee ligament damage in September.

He went on to stage an incredible recovery, which culminated in playing the full 90 minutes at Crystal Palace on the final game of last season.

The Northern Ireland international has followed that up with sustained fitness work during the last two months in an attempt to return to the peak of his powers.

The game at Selhurst Park in early May was the only senior fixture in which manager Owen Coyle saw Duff play.

But following the capture of striker Martin Paterson, midfielder Kevin McDonald, goalkeeper Diego Penny and left back Christian Kalvenes, Duff wants to act as another new signing for the Burnley boss.

“I’ve been looking forward to coming back because I can put last season behind me now,” he said.

“I want to forget about my knee now and try to prove to the manager that I’m good enough to play in his team.

“This is a big season for me now.

“The manager knows my make-up as regards to personality, but whether he has seen the best of me or not, coming back from injury, playing in the reserve and playing one game, is debatable.

“He’s got people like Steve Davis (first team coach) and Cliff Roberts (chief scout) to speak to, and I’m sure he will have seen videos, but I can’t rely on the good word of other people; it’s up to me to prove my worth.

“Crystal Palace was a bad team for me last season because FROM BACK PAGE it’s who I injured my knee against, and when I came back in the game against them we lost 5-0.

“But that was a big step for me, even though it was bitter-sweet with going down to 10 men and losing heavily in the end - I hope I’m not judged on that! But to get 90 minutes under my belt was important. I had certain goals along the way and that was probably one of the biggest ones, to play first team football.”

He added: “The end of the season came at the wrong time for me and I’ve been chomping at the bit for the last two months.

“I’ve worked hard during the summer, as did the rest of the lads.

“But I was given a programme by the physio, which included the fitness side, and I just had to maintain some strengthening work through my knee, which I’ll probably have to do for the rest of my career.

“That’s not a bad thing though, because it makes me appreciate what I had and what I’ve got.

“I get in to training a little bit earlier now and work on my legs, which will hopefully make me better and stronger.

“As far as I’m concerned I’m 100 per cent fit and my targets are the same as any other season - just to play.

“Having played a full game last season it makes me confident going into this season, not thinking about me knee.

“If I hadn’t played, it may still have been at the back of my mind.”