UNSUNG hero Kevin Horlock has stepped up to receive his player of the month award for October, writes Derek Davis.The signing from West Ham has been a revelation for Town this season sitting just in front of the back four and pinging telling passes all over the park.

UNSUNG hero Kevin Horlock has stepped up to receive his player of the month award for October, writes Derek Davis.

The signing from West Ham has been a revelation for Town this season sitting just in front of the back four and pinging telling passes all over the park.

His efforts last month were rewarded when he was presented with the monthly EADT/Powergen accolade at the Blues training ground yesterday.

Blues fan and Powergen employee Garry Worthington presented the inscribed plate to Horlock, whose consistency edged him ahead of Lewis Price, Jason De Vos and Shefki Kuqi, who were joint second.

One of the main aspects of Horlock's contribution was the amount of goals he set up with long left-footed passes over the defence for either Kuqi or Darren Bent to get on the end of.

The former Manchester City midfielder is happy to play his part but would not mind getting that goal scoring feeling for himself.

He said: "I'm really pleased to win this award. It is good to get recognition for what you do as a job. It was a good month for the team in general and the award could easily have gone to one of many players.

"I have been pretty consistent at supplying goals. I had the most assists at Manchester City with Shaun Goater and many people don't realise that I have that move because I play so deep.

"While it is good to make goals I wouldn't mind getting on the end of one myself and score. Hopefully I will get one before the end of the season.

"It is a bit more difficult from where I'm playing. Earlier in my career I played more advanced, as Westy (Ian Westlake) and Tommy (Miller) do now, and I used to get my share of goals.

"Perhaps I can pop up with an important goal that turns out to be the winner somewhere."

Perhaps that will be at Burnley on Saturday. Town's main injury worry ahead of the game remains De Vos, who has a severely bruised thigh. The physios are trying to disperse the blood and will be given until Saturday lunch-time before a decision is made.

Kelvin Davis could get the nod over his understudy Price in goal after recovering from a back problem.

Antonio Murray is called into the squad as cover for a Town team that has gone unbeaten in their past nine league games.

Included in that run is a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Burnley, who came from behind at Leeds when Jermaine Wright scored in the opening minute, to win 2-1.

Town go to Turf Moor on the back of 3-0 and 5-1 victories leaving Blues boss Joe Royle in buoyant mood.

He said: "The players are flying after following up the win over Preston with five against Sheffield United. We are in fine fettle but we know that it will be difficult against Burnley. We saw at our place that they are pretty dogged and they do what they do very well."

An injury-wrecked Clarets side will not be going all-out on the attack but Royle knows his side must blitz them from the off.

He said: "Burnley won't change their attitude towards us even though they are at home. They will be playing to soak up pressure and hit us on the break so it is important for us to get an early goal to draw them out a bit.

"We don't want to be hammering away as we were at Portman Road for 90 minutes to get a late goal.

"They had a big result at Leeds and a good result against Aston Villa in the Carling Cup so they are no mugs. They will be cock-a-hoop and will fancy their chances against us."

Former Blues defender John McGreal is one of six players likely to miss out for Burnley through injury. The defender has neck, shoulder ankle and knee injuries.