AREN’T international breaks boring? As someone who has very little interest in the national side – aside from the bursts of excitement that happen every two years for major tournaments – the weekend has been a bit of a write-off.

The only good thing I can think of is the time it has given our ever-increasing list of casualties to recover, and by gosh we’ve needed it.

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There does look to be better news on the injury front ahead of the visit of West Ham United on Saturday. Dean Marney, David Jones, Danny Ings and Nathaniel Chalobah should all be back which will be a major boost, especially with a run of games which includes three home matches in the next four.

We do need to start sticking a run together but I still think it is too early to start talking about ‘must win’ games.

We’ve taken quite a bit of stick from Blackburn Rovers fans about our start to the season but I do think it’s so difficult to work out how a season is going to pan out this early.

I’d have liked at least one win on the board – wouldn’t we all? – but that hasn’t happened and we have to keep believing it is just around the corner.

The last time we were in the top flight we won two of our first three and were still relegated.

That put a lot of pressure on us and we weren’t able to sustain that run either before or after Owen Coyle jumped ship and Brian Laws stepped in.

The pressure this time is of a different kind but I think in terms of personnel we are in a much better condition to cope.

In boss Sean Dyche we have someone who is no doubt a very calming influence on the lads and that level-headedness will be invaluable as we head into a long winter.

The visit of West Ham gives us a great chance of getting that elusive first win, although it should be noted that the Hammers will be no push-overs.

Boss Sam Allardyce, who is sure to get his usual warm East Lancastrian welcome from the Turf Moor faithful, has actually got them playing football this season but I think that could play into our hands.

We know we have to work harder than pretty much anyone else in this division but I think in footballing terms we can be a match for anyone.

A win would give us a great deal of confidence going forward and I am sure once we pick up three points for the first time, we’ll get properly into the groove.