BURNLEY legend Leighton James thinks the Clarets will need three more wins to secure a play-off place – and he thinks victory at Derby on Saturday could prove vital.

Owen Coyle’s Burnley side return to action at Pride Park at the weekend following the international break and James, who made over 400 league appearances for the Clarets in two spells between 1970 and 1989, will be cheering them on to victory against another of his old clubs.

The 56-year-old Welshman feared for Burnley’s play-off hopes after witnessing them lose 2-0 at home to Swansea - the other club with which he is most associated - on his last visit to Turf Moor in January.

But he has been encouraged with the way they have recovered to fifth place - four points clear of seventh-placed Preston.

He said: “I’ve been very impressed with the way they have recovered because I was at the Swansea game as guest of honour, when they lost comfortably.

“They had a poor time around Christmas and you wondered whether the cup ties were taking their toll, whether they had the strength in depth or might not be quite good enough to make the play-offs.

“But I take my hat off to them and Owen Coyle because their recent form has been outstanding. You can see there is a lot of heart and spirit at the club.

“I think three wins will be enough for them now, because that would give them 74 points and I can’t see the others all getting 75.

“Ideally I would have liked both Swansea and Burnley to go up, but that’s not going to happen now because one of them is going to miss out in the play-offs.

“I think it will be a very interesting end to the season, though. I can’t see a situation where the play-off positions don’t go to the last day.

“It will be a tough game at Derby because under Nigel Clough they are a lot more formidable now.

“But a win on Saturday could be very important, particularly if Sheffield United and Preston draw, or Preston lose. That could give them a seven-point advantage.

“I’ll be watching closely and I’ll be hoping Burnley win, because I think Derby are probably safe now.”

Such is the brave way in which the unfancied Clarets have approached this season, many around the town already think they deserve a place in the top six.

But James has warned that only what happens from now on will determine whether they deserve it, while insisting that Owen Coyle - despite all his achievements - should not be a contender for the Championship manager of the season award.

“The manager of the season should go to the manager who finishes top of the league,” he said.

“Owen has done a very good job and so has Roberto Martinez at Swansea, but if Swansea finish eighth or ninth you couldn’t give him the manager of the year award. It should go to the holy grail, whoever finishes top of the league.

“It’s getting to the stage of the season now where the league table doesn’t tell lies and if you finish top you deserve it.

“People can have a very one-eyed view about their own team but if you don’t get in the play-offs, you don’t deserve it.

“The ones who deserve it are the ones who win enough games. That would be my message.”

James has heard good things about fellow Welshman Rhys Williams, who is currently on loan with the Clarets from Middlesbrough.

And he believes Burnley should hope for Boro’s Premier League survival to increase their chances of the permanent signing of the right back, who is in the Wales senior squad but is yet to win his first cap.

James said: “Burnley will probably want to sign him in the summer but if you look at Middlesbrough, if they go down they may have to let some of their high earners go, so he might get a run in the side there.

“But I don’t think it will be long now before John Toshack puts him in the senior team for Wales, because he’s a very good player.”

Derby hope to have key midfielder Kris Commons back for Saturday’s Championship clash.

"The Scotland international has missed the last six games with a calf strain.