IPSWICH star Fabian Wilnis is desperate to make a first team return tomorrow - and move to within one game of his 300th appearance.Wilnis, 36, confirmed he has recovered from a hamstring strain to put him in contention for a comeback against Burnley at Portman Road.

By Mel Henderson

IPSWICH star Fabian Wilnis is desperate to make a first team return tomorrow - and move to within one game of his 300th appearance.

Wilnis, 36, confirmed he has recovered from a hamstring strain to put him in contention for a comeback against Burnley at Portman Road.

But remembering how he was axed from the side after being blamed by boss Jim Magilton for a defensive error in the home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday three weeks ago, the Dutch defender said: “It will be up to the manager - he picks the team.

“I have been around in football long enough to know when I make a mistake, but more importantly I know I can get over it and it won't affect me.

“Unfortunately, we all make mistakes and football is full of mistakes. If nobody made an error there would be a lot of goalless draws.”

Wilnis has been a tremendous servant to the club since his £200,000 move from De Graafschap, clocking up 298 appearances in almost eight years at Portman Road.

He added: “It has been frustrating recently. I am just like all the other players - I want to play each and every game. It rarely works out that way but teams tend to need all their players in a season.

“I have been working hard in training and

ideally I would have liked to

have been fit for Wednesday's game at Derby. But the physio didn't feel I was 100 per cent and it was better not to risk it or I might have ended up being out for even longer.”

Wilnis played no part as Town were felled by stoppage-time goals in their last three away games, but he shares his colleagues' disappointment.

He said: “To be honest we only have ourselves to blame. Something is clearly not right and we have to correct it. But I am very positive that we can turn things round.”

A fully-fit Wilnis could slot in on either side of the defence, depending how the Town boss best believes he can compensate for the loss of suspended pair Dan Harding and Simon Walton.

Fifth-placed Burnley have only managed one win since their last-gasp defeat of Ipswich at Turf Moor just 27 days ago.

That was three days ago, when they saw off ten-man Leeds at home, a result that followed three successive defeats by promotion candidates Cardiff, West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham.

Steve Cotterill's men have lost just twice in nine away games this season, at Ninian Park and The Hawthorns, and have conceded fewer goals on their travels - eight - than any of their Championship rivals.

Ten-goal leading scorer Andy Gray is doubtful with a foot injury that forced him off on Tuesday.