DAVID May blames himself for the bout of hamstring hell that has kept him sidelined for six weeks.

The Burnley defender is finally ready to resume first team action at Derby tomorrow if manager Stan Ternent gives him the green light.

But May believes he would have been back in action sooner if he had not pushed himself to recover in record time.

The Clarets ace admitted: "The worst thing is missing seven games, but it was my own fault.

"I tried getting back for the West Ham game and maybe trying to get back inside two weeks was pushing it, so I've had to learn my lesson.

"It was eagerness on my part because things were going well and I felt I was playing well.

"You want to play in as many games as you can, but it was just one of those things."

May came through a 45-minute reserve team run-out on Wednesday with a view to playing some part in tomorrow's trip to Pride Park.

He added: "I think the only way you can test whether you are fully fit is by playing games. I did that on Wednesday and got through it fine. It's been a frustrating time, but I came through and hopefully now I can play on Saturday"

The Clarets have failed to register a win in May's absence, but the ex-Manchester United stopper believes all the Clarets have been missing is a little luck.

He added: "I think the lads have played really well at times, but you come back to the fact we make one mistake and it's punished, where other teams have made similar mistakes and maybe we haven't punished them.

"If we can get rid of those basic mistakes you wouldn't expect from individuals, we still have the chance of doing well this season. But we have to start picking up points."

Clarets chief Stan Ternent will delay naming his team until the last minute to assess injuries to skipper Graham Branch (ankle) and Delroy Facey and Luke Chadwick (both toe).

But determined Ternent has vowed to transform Burnley's fortunes by going for a hat-trick of wins at Derby's impressive Pride Park ground.

He said: "That was our first win last season and we have won there in the cup too, so it's been a good place for us and we will go there to win the game.

"I think we we are playing okay, but we just need to be more diligent and stop giving these stupid goals away because we can, and we will, score goals.

"But you only have to look at the goals for and goals against columns to tell you everything you need to know. We have to improve by being meaner."

Ternent added: "If I can get them all fit I've got a good squad and they are a match for anyone. I don't think there's an outstanding team in the division. Some are stronger than others with their squads and the wage structures, but we are as good as anything."