Brian Laws is keeping his options open

Burnley sit 10th in the Championship, a point from the play-off places and 10 from the last automatic slot after Saturday’s dismal 1-0 defeat at Coventry.

A failure to win away from home in nine attempts this season has hit the Clarets’ promotion push, with chances going begging at key times.

Thirteen players have scored for Burnley so far this season, with Chris Iwelumo top-scorer with nine - all scored at Turf Moor - but Brian Laws feels his side have to be more ruthless, and may act: “If we’re not going to capitalise on the chances we make, then I may have to bring someone in.

“We’ve got to have big hearts out there, and we keep saying week in, week out, whether we’re putting pressure on ourselves, that we want to do well in this division, get in that top six, for sure, because we’re more than good enough.

“However, if we start snatching at opportunities, as we’ve done, chances are we’re losing a bit of composure and I might need that.

“You know teams will take their gilt-edged chances when they get them, but we’ve got goals in us, for sure, and creativity.”

Martin Paterson has missed the last two games with a thigh strain, but is expected to be available to face Derby County at Turf Moor on Saturday, as Laws said: “Pato’s been doing a lot of work, and he’s 95% there, so I’m hoping come next week (Saturday) he should be available.”

Initially, after Paterson’s injury, Laws was linked with a move for Birmingham City’s veteran sniffer Kevin Phillips, and while on Thursday he ruled out going in for the former England international as a straight replacement for Paterson, he didn’t dismiss it outright: “I don’t know where that came from.

“He’s always on everybody’s radar if you’re looking for a natural finisher, regardless of his age.

“But if you want to replace him like for like then he’s not a player like Paterson.

“I would dismiss it for a replacement for Pato.”

Meanwhile, Laws expects Danny Fox to be out for at least another fortnight, after injuring ankle ligaments against Doncaster Rovers.

Brian Easton has performed well in his absence, but Laws said: “Foxy has a strained ligament which we don’t know whether it’s going to be two or three weeks, it’s very difficult to give you an honest opinion because each player repairs differently.

“It might be four to six weeks on certain players but we’re hoping he’s a lot quicker than that.”