Burnley FC

• Nickname:
• Founded:1882
• Manager:Eddie Howe

• Ground:
• Capacity:NaN

Caldwell desperate to return

02 Oct 2009 - 13:29:52

Click To Enlarge

Burnley captain Steven Caldwell has declared himself fit for this weekend's Premier League clash against Birmingham City at Turf Moor.

The 29-year-old has not featured in the first team so far this season because of a groin problem but came through an hour of a second-string encounter in midweek unscathed.

He said: "I feel totally there, or as close as I'm going to be until I get back in the action.

"Obviously I'm desperate to get out there. It's been a long, hard wait and I want to be playing, sooner rather than later for me. For some reason I don't feel like I lost so much fitness with the injury.

"With the type of injury it was I was constantly trying to push it and get out there and the problem was just getting that last ten, 15, 20 per cent out of me to play a game, which was impossible for three or four weeks.

"I was constantly out there and running and moving and doing cardio-vascular work. I feel pretty fit.

"It was something that had been niggling away for months really. I'd probably not felt great since March through the end of the season and the play-off run, but obviously the adrenaline of games like that is so big I'd get there out on the field and play and be alright and training would be quite short.

"I'm just pleased now that it feels the best it's felt in six months and I'm desperate to get back out there and help the lads and do whatever I can to help the tremendous start that we've already had.

"I want in right away, you know what I'm like. I want to be playing on Saturday and I'm hopeful that I am.

"That's up to the manager, that's a headache for him. I'm ready and I'll be training 100 per cent trying to make him see that I'm ready to be in the team."