MANAGER Owen Coyle hopes Wade Elliott can provide extra ammunition to boost Burnley’s play-off ambitions.

The winger followed up a goal in Saturday’s 5-0 drubbing of Nottingham Forest with a stunning effort against Ipswich Town on Tuesday night, doubling his tally from last season, when he was more noted for a catalogue of assists.

But, after deploying the 30-year-old in a central midfield role in midweek, Coyle believes Elliott is capable of becoming a poacher rather than provider in the remaining seven league games.

“I thought his run (for the goal) was outstanding, when he beat two or three men, never mind the finish he drilled into the opposite corner,” said the Burnley boss.

“It was an outstanding goal from Wade, and I’ve tried to encourage him to be more positive in his outlook in terms of scoring goals.

“I think he has always been used to being the guy with the assists, crossing them to make them. But I think he is trying to add that string to his bow as well, the fact that he is a potent goal threat.”

Elliott’s versatility is also paying dividends at a crucial time for the Clarets, who have used only 23 players this season - the least in the Championship.

He occupied a more central position, alongside Chris McCann, at Portman Road, allowing Chris Eagles to start on the right of a five-man midfield on his return to the side.

And Coyle was pleased with the former Bournemouth man’s performance.

“We played him in there and I thought he was outstanding, and probably should have scored again through Chris Eagles’ excellent wing play when he crossed the ball in,” he said. “Wade got a header, which is unlike him, six yards out, but Richard Wright’s had an unbelievable save - as he did in the second half (from Steven Caldwell).”

Although Giovani Dos Santos cancelled out Elliott’s opener in the second half, forcing the Clarets to settle for a point, Coyle was pleased to keep Burnley’s recent unbeaten run going in the first of two long away trips this week.

The Clarets will have clocked up more than 1,000 miles on their return from their next fixture, at Plymouth on Saturday.

But after earning 10 points in an unbeaten four-game run, Coyle is keen to defy the distance and stay in the play-off pack.

“If we get 10 points out of the next 12 we would be delighted. We just have to continue giving the level of performance we are giving,” said Coyle, whose side went to Ipswich on the back of three successive league wins.

“We wanted to continue the run we’ve been on and make it four, and for periods of the game we looked as though that would be the case. As it was, we were left with a point, but it cements us in that top six and we just have to rest up, go to Plymouth and look to try to win the game,” he said.

“We have to focus on being as positive as we were on Tuesday night and look to try to win the game.

“We’ve used the fewest amount of players in the Championship, so we just have to make sure these players are ticking over, nice and fresh, and ready to give their best.”