Burrows ready to reach for the Sky Blues.

Byline: Bill Howell

COVENTRY City defender David Burrows has outlined his desire to stay with the club.

The 31-year-old is putting his contract talks on hold as he battles back to fitness from a knee injury.

But he said: "I want to stay."

Burrows, a pounds 1.1 million signing from Everton nearly five years ago, said: "My contract is on hold because of the injury. Two months ago a new contract was mentioned to me but I want to stop any talks because until I get fit again when I'll be in a much stronger position.

"This is a very important time of my career over the next few years. I have to do what is right for me.

"I've told the chairman Bryan Richardson I am very keen to stay. I think the club is going forward. It is definitely progressing.

"And I have a great rapport with the supporters - when I play!

"The club have been good to me and I'd like to think I have been good for them. I enjoy going to all the different functions.

"They are a good set of people at the club, in the offices and the staff. But I have to do what is right for me and my family."

Burrows has endured a nightmare season of suspension and now injury.

He says it has been his worst campaign "by a long stretch".

Burrows received a three-game ban after his first-ever red card for elbowing Leicester's Robbie Savage back in August.

Then, on his return at Tranmere in September, he was ordered off and received a further four-game ban after a tussle with Alan Morgan.

To cap it all off on his return to the starting line-up against Leicester at the end of November he damaged his cruciate ligaments.

"This season has gone pear-shaped," said the Dudley-born full-back.

"I've never experienced anything like this before. I've had injuries in the past but never a seven game ban. On top of that I tweaked my cruciate ligaments on my comeback.

"I've come to terms with it now but it has been very difficult.

"Getting through the seven games was horrendous. Especially as all the internationals were taking place during that time.

"The frustrating thing was that I'd actually had a very good start to the season. But it was my own fault. I was very rash and petulant. I had to do my time.

"Then I came back thinking I'd got a clean slate and things were looking up. The before half-time against Leicester the injury hit me for six."

The father-of-two is not overjoyed at the prospect at spending the festivities back home with his family.

"The wife has said that at least it means I can be home for Christmas and the New Year but I don't care about Christmas and the Millennium," he admitted.

"I won't be over indulging in the turkey stakes anyway. Come January, I want to be getting down to some serious rehabilitation work and sweating off a few pounds.

"It's just fortunate the team are doing well in the league and we've had the good Cup result as well. So at least the pressure is off.

"If we were down at the bottom of the league and struggling against relegation it would make it even worse."

Burrows left Albion for Liverpool for pounds 600,000 in 1988 and reckons this week's departure of Kevin Kilbane will be a major loss to the Baggies.

"He's been getting stronger and has got into the Irish team. He'll be a big loss," he said.

"I've spoken to Gary Breen about him and he says he's come on leaps and bounds in the last six months. It was no shock to see clubs come in for him."

CAPTION(S):

STAYING PUT... Coventry City defender David Burrows wants to stay at Highfield Road