DEFENDER Clarke Carlisle is relishing increased competition for places with captain Steven Caldwell ready to return – even if it means his place comes under threat.

Scotland centre half Caldwell is desperate to start against Birmingham City this afternoon after watching last week’s 5-0 defeat at Spurs from the bench.

The 29-year-old has yet to feature for the Clarets in the Premier League, after a groin injury on his international recall in August kiboshed the start of his season.

But after coming through an hour of Wednesday’s reserves win over Hull City, Caldwell has declared himself fit to face the Blues and help Burnley extend their impressive home run with a fourth straight win.

His return has been timed almost in tandem with fellow defender Michael Duff, who suffered an ankle injury in the last minute of their final pre-season friendly in America in July and has yet to make his top flight bow.

With the summer signings of David Edgar, from Newcastle United, and Cameroon international Andre Bikey from Reading, competition among the backline is fierce.

But Carlisle knows that can only bode well for the team.

“There are good problems for the manager to have,” said the former QPR and Watford defender, who is in the last year of his current Clarets contract.

“It means I have to be right up there week in, week out, which I suppose is good for me.

“It’s excellent having competition for places, especially when the competition’s of such high quality.”

But, although Burnley’s strong home form has yet to be replicated away, Carlisle has staked a strong claim for the shirt with some dominant defensive displays.

Ahead of last weekend’s trip to White Hart Lane, the 29-year-old was topping the defensive clearances and blocks categories for the division.

“That’s a good stat as a defender I suppose. We’re quite busy aren’t we?” said the Preston-born stopper, who admitted his defensive style was still adapting to modern-day top flight football.

“Back in the day there was an art form to winning the ball and then cleaning the man out,” he continued.

“It was an art to produce that very good 60-40 tackle.

“I loved it! But you can’t do that any more and, I’m finding personally, it almost gives you a slight apprehension about fully committing to a person because now, even if you do get the ball, you can still be in trouble with the minimum a free kick, yellow card, maybe off the park – and you’ve won the ball.

“It’s producing a different breed of defender and I’m just hoping I can adapt and become that.”