INFLUENTIAL defender Steven Caldwell believes Burnley need "11 captains" to steer them out of danger.

The Clarets were widely tipped for the Championship play-offs up until embarking on a winless streak at the end of November that has stretched to 14 league games.

Following Norwich City's late win at Luton in midweek, Burnley slipped one place to 17th in the table and find themselves just five points above the drop zone.

But captain Caldwell is confident he and his team-mates can shoulder the responsibility of ending their wretched run and remove the threat of being sucked into a relegation dogfight.

"In modern football I really believe there are 11 captains, it's not like the old days when you maybe had one figure," said the Scotland international, who replaced Wayne Thomas as skipper last week just three weeks after completing a transfer deadline day move from Sunderland.

"It's important everybody takes responsibility, and I would play exactly the same with the armband or not.

"The captaincy just happened, we certainly didn't speak about it before I signed.

"I was captain at Sunderland, before being stripped of the captaincy just before I left, but it's something I enjoy doing, and I've got no problems with it.

"When I was asked here, it was an easy decision for me.

"I had a chat with Thommo that will stay in house, and the gaffer had a chat with him, but at the end of the day, Thommo and I both know it's not about us, it's about what the gaffer wants, and at some stage he might turn to me and say he doesn't want me to be captain anymore.

"I'm still going to give 100 per cent for Burnley if that happens."

He added: "I would like to think I can add to the team, and the way I play, as you've probably realised already, I'm not the most skilful player - an important part of my qualities is to be committed and try to lead on the pitch.

"I'm never going to score a 30-yard free kick or defence-splitting pass.

"I really enjoy being captain, but I'm still going to be me whether I have the armband or not."

Caldwell played his part in earning a clean sheet at Colchester last weekend and is looking to turn the point picked up at Layer Road into three points at Turf Moor when the Clarets entertain Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Peter Taylor's men themselves plummeted down the table earlier this season - from fifth to 20th at the end of a run of one win in 11 games from the end of September to the end of November.

But the turn of the year heralded an upturn in form for Palace, who have climbed back up to 11th.

And Caldwell is looking forward to pitting his wits against strikers such as James Scowcroft, Clinton Morrison, whose brace secured a win over Luton last weekend, and fellow Scotland international Dougie Freedman.

"They're quality players and you can never be off your guard against players like that," he said.

"I know Clinton's maybe had a bit of a bad run but he scored two goals at the weekend, he's a dangerous player. I played against him a few times, at international level also.

"He's somebody that has to be watched for 90 minutes because he's that kind of striker that he's maybe not doing a lot but he's always likely to get a goal and sniff a goal in the box."

He added: "We do obviously need the confidence of that one win and what that brings - I'm pretty sure it's going to come on Saturday and if it does, great, because I think we'll finish really strongly. And then come next season we're looking for the play-offs, hopefully automatic (promotion).

"I think Derby have proved this year - they didn't have a very successful season last year and now they're second in the league and have been flying high all season.

"There's no reason why any team can't do that in this division."