With Burnley taking on Preston tonight, David Unsworth was one of a number of former Clarets who spoke to us this week.

IF Marvel needed inspiration for a new superhero, they could do worse than consider David Unsworth as ‘Transition Man’.

Towards the end of his playing career the former Everton defender was an important figure in assisting the Clarets’ conversion from top six hopefuls in the Championship to serious play-off contenders.

Now, as his coaching career begins, he aims to have the same effect on rivals Preston.

He certainly hopes to be third time lucky when it comes to tonight’s derby.

“I played in both derbies in my season with Burnley and came second both times. Hopefully that’s a good omen for Preston,” said Unsworth, who immediately became a fans’ favourite when he was signed on a free transfer by Steve Cotterill in August 2007 – days before Graham Alexander arrived on a two-year deal from Deepdale.

Two contract extensions later, and Unsworth’s not surprised to see his friend and former team-mate still going strong.

After once backing the Scotland international to play until he’s 40, the Chorley-born stopper now feels he may have underestimated Alexander’s longevity.

But he has no doubts about who takes the better penalty.

“I would have to say me!” said Unsworth, before bursting into laughter.

“We have two different styles.

“His is so unique and difficult to read, and he’s taken a few more than me as well.

“I have only missed two though – against Blackburn for Sheffield United, and one for Everton that hit the crossbar so I’d say I had the better average!

“But Grezza’s record is phenomenal.”

It’s not just their penalty styles that are different though.

Unsworth feels that, unlike him, Alexander wouldn’t have any qualms about dropping down the divisions to satisfy his desire to keep playing.

“I’m sure he wants to play at as high a level he can for as long as he can, but there comes a point when your body says otherwise,” said the 36-year-old, who finished his playing career in League One at Huddersfield Town – two rungs below the level the former Toffeeman had been used to for the bulk of his career.

“But maybe dropping down a league might not bother him that much. It’s something that, mentally, I found difficult to do. But we’re all different, and I think he just loves playing. He won’t give in to coaching yet, but he’s done his badges and they’re there to fall back on when he needs to.

“I nearly went into the job at Burnley, and in hindsight maybe it was the wrong decision to go.

“But I wanted to stay as a player and not as a coach.

“Unfortunately I didn’t get that opportunity, but when I was at Huddersfield all I wanted to do was coach. I was ready, and I love the job I do now at Preston.”

He added: “I hope I don’t get booed too much by the Burnley fans. I had a great year there in that transitional period. It was a good year for me because I played a lot of games and it was the start of what happened the year after. I hope I played a small part in that.”

Can he be as influential at Preston?

“It was a difficult one to take last year with Blackpool getting promoted too, and the manner in which they did it,” Unsworth said. “It raised everyone’s aspirations. There’s always a chance, always a possibility in this league.

“You’ve just got to get on a roll, and once you do, you’re difficult to stop.”