WHEN it comes to debuts, Danny Fox knows that things can only get better.

Fox will be hoping to make his first appearance for Burnley on Saturday when the Clarets host West Ham United at Turf Moor on Saturday, but a little hesitancy can perhaps be forgiven.

If Fox’s memories of his debut for Celtic last July are not exactly fond - he was a second-half substitute as the Hoops lost 1-0 at home to Dinamo Moscow, seemingly shunting them towards the Champions League exit door before an unlikely comeback in the second leg in Russia - then his first game for Scotland four months later was the stuff of nightmares.

It was one of the proudest days of the left back’s career, yet a shock 3-0 loss to Wales had rather unfortunate consequences for boss George Burley.

Fox is not the sort of person to be put off by one bad experience, though, and is now determined to prove himself worthy of a regular starting place in the national team under the management of new boss Craig Levein.

“That’s a massive ambition,” said the 23-year-old, who hails from Cheshire but qualifies for Scotland by virtue of his grandfather.

“I made my debut against Wales and it didn’t go quite according to plan because George Burley got the sack on the Monday! One cap, one manager.

“But obviously your club football is your bread and butter so I’ve got to make sure I do well here before I even thinking about international football.

“I think Craig Levein has watched a few of my games but as long as I do well at club level, then the international thing takes care of itself.

“I know Fletch (Steven Fletcher) and Steven Caldwell from the Scotland squad, though, so it makes the move here a lot easier.”

Fox saw plenty of Burnley during their promotion campaign, having been in the Championship himself with Coventry City before his move to Glasgow.

“I played against them twice last season,” he said.

“At Coventry we lost 3-1 after being 1-0 up at half time. Burnley were the best football team we played by a mile last season and I think they got their just rewards.

“They played 60-odd games and the squad was so small last season so it was some achievement, and it would be an even bigger achievement to stay in the Premier League.”

A boyhood Everton fan, Fox briefly played alongside Wayne Rooney in the youth team at Goodison Park and is disappointed that he has arrived at Turf Moor after Burnley have already played both league games against the Toffees this season.

“I’m gutted to miss the Everton games but a lot of my family support Liverpool as well so I’m looking forward to that now,” said Fox,who joined Walsall after being released by Everton.

“I think it’s the third last game of the season. It’d be good for us to stay up and for them to miss out on the Champions League!

“I only played with Wayne Rooney for a year to 18 months at Everton and then he just took off.

“He was only about 14 or 15 and he was training with the first team. You could see then how good he was going to be.

“I enjoyed my time at Everton massively. Being an Everton fan, it was wrench to leave them.

“But I’ve played about 200 games now since I left. I’ve played so many games in such a short period of time, games like Arsenal away in the Champions League qualifiers and the Old Firm game, so hopefully that will stand me in good stead in the Premier League against top-notch opposition.

“I’ve played for five or six clubs already and I want to try to settle now. Hopefully, Burnley is the place to do that.”