DAVID Edgar spent long enough in the north east to make plenty of acquain-tances, but he admitted: “I wouldn’t call them friends at Middlesbrough.”

His statement was accom-panied with a wry smile, but you wouldn’t expect any other sentiment from a former Newcastle player.

Edgar left the Magpies for Burnley two-and-a-half years ago but it’s only this season, under Eddie Howe, that he has been able to enjoy a run in the team and show why he was worth every penny of the £300,000 that was set at tribunal.

There were a couple of false starts under previous boss Brian Laws, after being overlooked by Owen Coyle in the Premier League season.

But the defender hasn’t looked back since signing off last season with an impeccable performance against Cardiff.

After yesterday penning a one-year extension to the initial deal he signed in 2009, taking him through to the summer of 2014, Edgar is focused on the future, and is relishing a rumble at the Riverside tomorrow.

“We've got to keep going one game at a time, keep looking up the league and hopefully picking up points, starting tomorrow because we want to get back to winning ways,” said the 24-year-old, whose father, Eddie, is a former Newcastle United goalkeeper.

“We've lost two on the bounce now.

"It was disappointing at Leeds (in the last league game), considering how hard we worked, but we want to get back to winning ways because we've been playing well and getting a lot of points away from home.

“It’s a funny league and we've definitely shown we can beat the top teams, we've just got to keep the consistency level up.

"That's the main aim, we want to do it as soon as possible, but we'll take it one step at a time, and hopefully we'll be up there at the end of the season.

“Who knows what could happen.”

On a personal note, Edgar feels his all-round game is improving thanks to his run in the side.

"I think I've definitely improved, matured as a centre back and you learn the league, because the Championship is difficult,” he said, "I've cut out the silly mistakes, I'd like to think, and I've got better in terms of defending.”

He has added goals to his game too - his first coming at a crucial time to prevent Burnley from dropping into the bottom three back in November.

His late brace at Hull City, followed by Jay Rodriguez’s last gasp winner, inspired the Clarets to go on a run that would have propelled them into the play-off positions had they not suffered a late defeat at Leeds in their last league game, after playing with 10 men for an hour.

"The results have shown how we've grown as a team,” said Edgar, who is looking to add more goals to his game.

"It was a bit of a shock to get the two goals at Hull, but I know I can get goals from set pieces. In reality I think I should be scoring some more to help the team that way as well.

"I just want to continue playing well and stay in the team. You've got to earn your shirt every week, and that's what I'm trying to do.”

But it has been a patient process for the likable Canadian, who signed off last season with an impeccable performance against Cardiff City, giving manager Howe food for thought over the summer.

“All I ever wanted was a chance,” he said.

"I knew deep down I could play in the team and in this league, it was just getting the opportunity to do so.

"The Cardiff game was massive for me, it made my summer a lot better and I went away, stayed fit and came back flying.

"I wanted to show how badly I wanted it.

“There have been disappointing times (since signing) but I never let my head drop and just kept plugging away and training hard.

"I got my opportunity under the gaffer and I like to think I've taken it so far.”

He insists he never let a two-year battle to break into the team get him down.

"That's football, it happened to me at Newcastle quite a bit, you've just got to take your chance when it comes,” he said.

"When you're not playing, training is all you have and you have to show the gaffer you deserve to be in the team, and do the extra little bits that get you noticed.

"I consider myself quite determined, all I ever wanted to do was play football, and once I got my chance I didn't want to let it go.”

He added: "I had loan moves to get football, and that happens. There were frustrating times, but I love playing here, I love the staff, so I didn't see myself leaving, I just wanted to get games and prove myself.

"You like to think there's a clean slate every year coming into pre-season, I worked hard over the summer and stayed fit, and had a really good pre-season.

"I think that showed, and I needed to show how much I wanted it.

"I eventually got a chance in my position.”

He is grateful for the faith Howe has shown in him, after the pair discussed the need to decide on a key role for the versatile defender.

“I just wanted to be playing, wherever I was asked, but when I got my chance at centre back it was a major thing,” said Edgar.

"I love playing there and feel most comfortable there.

"It was difficult being in and out of the team, but hopefully that's in the past and I can focus on playing well and earning my shirt every week.”