FRANK Sinclair has been Burnley's very own 'Man in a Suitcase'.

And while the Clarets defender may not yet hold the same cult status as the 1960s spy thriller, he hopes that ending a summer of commuting will finally allow him to make Turf Moor a home from home.

"I've been in a hotel for a few weeks since the season started," explained the Lambeth-born stopper.

"That hasn't been ideal, but I've finally moved into my own place now so I'm a lot happier there.

"Football-wise I've been full on from the beginning, so I've felt pretty comfortable and that's not been a problem.

"But it's always a lot easier when you have your own base. My family is still down south because, with me only signing for a year and having two young kids, it wasn't worth uprooting them.

"But you need to be stable for the football to flow and the decision I've made is to commute and get back whenever I can.

"I'm going to be working here in Burnley the majority of the time, so that made sense and we're happy with it."

To be Frank, Sinclair has passed his initiation into the new-look Burnley defence with flying colours.

A blip against Gillingham apart, the Clarets have kept a rock-solid shape that looks like standing them in good stead for the long First Division fight ahead.

And the modest Jamaican international reckons defensive partner John McGreal and manager Steve Cotterill emerge with most of the honours.

"Obviously we've conceded a couple of goals in the last few games and that has been disappointing," admitted Sinclair.

"But generally I think we've been fully in control at the back and John McGreal plays a huge part in that.

"I've known him as a player for many a year before we both arrived here in the summer, so I knew what he was all about.

"I was also comfortable enough to know that we could build up a relationship and he has been nothing short of magnificent since I joined."

Sinclair, who was lured from Leicester by Cotterill after the two worked together at the Walkers Stadium towards the end of last season, added: "When the manager arrived he brought new ideas with him and really worked the team hard - especially the back four.

"Every day, after training, we were doing extra work on our understanding, so he takes an awful lot of credit for drilling us behind the scenes.

"We've worked hard on holding a line and pushing a line up, working and covering for each other.

"I think the manager would have like to have done some more work, but I feel we've done enough to know each other as players.

"I know he goes through that thorough detail for every position on the pitch and because of that, I knew I was going to enjoy working alongside him again. That was one of the main reasons why I came."

Sinclair, 32, is equally impressed with the way Michael Duff has handled the leap in class after joining from Cheltenham.

The right back has been another plus point of a defence that, up until the Bank Holiday Monday loss to Gillingham, had conceded just three league goals in five games.

"For someone like Michael Duff, this was a big test because he's come into a level he's never played at before," said Sinclair.

"But he has looked brilliant and coped with everything. I'm right alongside him and I can see he is good in the air, strong in the tackle and doesn't get beaten down the flank very often.

"If I didn't know he'd come from a lower club like Cheltenham, I would never have picked him out as a lower league player.

"He was maybe a little nervous at the beginning, but game for game you would have to say he has been every inch as good as anyone else at the back."

That Burnley defence now faces a truly stern test in the form of free-scoring Crewe Alexandra, who have notched 15 goals in six games in all competitions this season.

But Sinclair added: "We seem to be dealing with everything quite well. I don't think any team has cut us open through sheer skill or pace, but we need to get back on the winning trail again.

"The team as a whole needs that because, for the way we have played, especially at home, we don't feel we've amassed the points we deserve.

"That's something we've got to take care of as soon as possible and Crewe is our next opportunity to get the job done."