JACK Cork hopes increased competition for midfield places can help to get Burnley back on track.

The Clarets have been without Steven Defour and Robbie Brady for most of the season, with the duo making their returns from injury in recent weeks.

Defour had knee surgery last January and made his Premier League return in last month’s defeat away to Manchester City. Brady, meanwhile, had a 10-month lay-off after suffering a knee injury against this weekend’s opponents Leicester City, on Burnley’s last visit to the King Power last December.

The Republic of Ireland international marked his return in home loss to Chelsea less than a fortnight ago, in the absence of Aaron Lennon. But he was named on the bench with Lennon back in the line-up after recovering from illness to face West Ham.

And Cork is confident it is just a matter of time before they start to make a positive impression on the side. Having struck up an impressive midfield partnership with Defour last season before injury, Cork is pleased to be reunited with the Belgium inter-national in the centre of the park.

“It’s been good back with Stevie, we had a good partnership in the early stages of last season,” said the 29-year-old, who has adapted to the midfield changes since.

“Me and Westy and Jeff have as well,” added Cork of playing alongside Ashley Westwood and Jeff Hendrick.

“Westy has been brilliant so far this season, he’s been great on the ball with a great workrate and Jeff when he’s come in and played has offered the same.

“It’s good to have Steve back but Westy has done a great job so far this season.”

But Burnley had some of their biggest successes last season with Defour in the side, as the Clarets were propelled to seventh in the Premier League. It was a position that they managed to sustain without the former Porto and Anderlecht playmaker, but Defour was instrumental in Burnley’s brilliant start to the 2017/18 campaign.

“We had a really good partnership, we had a great start and it propelled us to a good season,” said Cork. “I enjoyed playing with Steven, he was unlucky towards the end of last season with his injury and it was good to see him back on the pitch.

“Stevie is a great player, he’s played at a lot of top clubs and a lot of big games. He’s got a calmness on the ball, that desire to want the ball and play a good pass.

“It’s great to have a player like that knowing he’s got that quality on the ball to provide something magical when you need it.”

“You can see the things he does sometimes (in training) and it shows what a great player he is, you can see how experienced he is and how many caps he’s got for Belgium.”