STEVE Cotterill has no qualms throwing Steve Foster his first Clarets league start in Devon tomorrow - if John McGreal loses his race for fitness.

McGreal is awaiting the results of a scan on a knee injury sustained in Tuesday night's 0-0 draw with Southend.

The veteran defender was still limping yesterday morning after twisting his knee in an innocuous challenge on the brink of half-time.

If the 34-year-old fails to shake off his injury before tomorrow's Championship clash at Plymouth, Foster will get the nod in central defence.

Foster replaced McGreal in midweek and has waited patiently for his full Burnley league debut following his free transfer signing from Crewe this summer.

Clarets boss Cotterill has described Foster as an absolute diamond' and is confident that the 26-year-old centre-back will not let anybody down.

"Steve's a fantastic lad," said Cotterill. "He gives his all to the dressing room when he has not been playing.

"He's probably one of the best characters in the dressing room - an absolute diamond of a lad. He's really top drawer.

"If we need him tomorrow, there's no worries or problems with Steve Foster whatsoever.

"He's very mature and trains hard. When he's been out of the team, he's not sulked. He's gone and done extra training.

"We'll see how the team shapes up this weekend and if it is to be him, then I would not have any qualms whatsoever.

"You just hope that if he gets his opportunity, he goes and grabs it."

Foster stepped in alongside Michael Duff, for his first appearance in almost two months, against the Shrimpers to help the Clarets maintain successive clean sheets at Turf Moor.

Cotterill was satisfied with the former Railwayman's performance and admitted it was not the easiest moment to make an entrance.

Cotterill added: "He can be better, but he did okay the other night.

"It was quite a tricky time when he came on for the second part of the game against Southend.

"Whereas if he came on in the second part of the game against Barnsley, it would have been a lot easier for him.

"But he coped very well with everything thrown at him."

With captain and defender Wayne Thomas completing his four-game suspension at Home Park, Cotterill is pleased to have Foster available.

"We are just thankful that we've got cover in defensive areas," said Cotterill. "At the beginning of the season, some people wondered why we've got six defenders. That's why.

"That's the one area where I don't like being disrupted. If I could pick the same four for 46 games, I would. But we are lucky that we have got a defender to go in there.

"Before we've probably not had that. Last season we ended up putting Wade Elliott in at right back against Coventry.

"They've got James Scowcroft on the left wing, so big diagonal balls on to Wade Elliott caused us a problem."