Ashley Barnes will be in an unusual situation at Turf Moor on Sunday - watching his former club for the second game running as they take on his current one.

Cruciate knee ligament damage sustained at Aston Villa on the final day of the Premier League season doubled the agony of Burnley's relegation.

Barnes hopes to be back for a final push by the Lancastrians to instantly regain top flight status, possibly even for the return at the Amex at the beginning of April.

For now he has to sit and suffer. "It is going to be strange," he said. "I'll have mixed emotions watching it, that's for sure. If we could both get promoted that would be great."

Apart from the mental torture of being sidelined by the first serious injury of his career, Barnes is a happy bunny. His move to Burnley from Albion in the January 2014 transfer window has worked out well.

He helped them to promotion, then experienced a memorable if ultimately disappointing season in the Premier League.

The 26-year-old former Plymouth Argyle striker from Bath, with a still detectable West Country accent, is settled on the outskirts of Manchester with his young family.

Brighton, nevertheless, retains a special place in his heart. Son Flynn, now in reception class at school, was born in the city. Dad was a key player for Gus Poyet's Albion as they won League One at Withdean and had two top ten finishes at the Amex in the Championship.

"I still come back to Brighton a lot," Barnes said. "I came to watch the MK Dons game. I get back when I can. I still own a house down there and my wife (Zan) loves it.

"She has always said we'll settle there but you never know where you'll end up in football.

"I speak to the boys all the time, Gord, Kaz, Calde, Crofty. It was nice to come and do a bit of scouting as well!

"Crofty has helped me a lot with the injury because of what he went through. It's good to have someone like that who can help you through things and give you advice.

"There are a few of the boys that have done that at the club (Burnley) as well, so it's good to have people around me that have gone through the same pain."

There was a certain amount of pain connected with the departure of Barnes to Burnley, who saw off competition from Leeds to land him.

Albion were in the hunt for promotion again, this time under Oscar Garcia. Although they still reached the play-offs, Barnes was not adequately replaced.

In an interview with The Argus shortly after leaving, Barnes, scorer of 49 goals in 163 appearances for the Seagulls, said he felt unwanted.

With his contract nearing its end and no breakthrough in negotiations over a new deal, he was sold for an undisclosed fee.

Time is a great healer. Did he feel under-valued? Barnes, reflecting on the circumstances surrounding his move north, said: "Yeah, maybe. You can't really look at things like that. I never wanted to leave at all but sometimes you have to move on.

"I had four and a bit amazing years there and I would never rule out a move back there for sure."

Barnes has no regrets, why would he? He took his chance, when it arrived via an injury to Sam Vokes, to assist Burnley's automatic promotion to the Championship.

Sean Dyche, their highly regarded manager, has Poyet-like faith in his contribution. Barnes missed only three games in the Premier League last season.

His five goals included matchwinners against Hull and Southampton and a late pointsaver at Manchester City.

Barnes said: "It was the best time in my career so far, everyone would say that. The Premier League is where everyone wants to be.

"I'm sure there were a lot of people thinking 'How is he there?' But I know my own ability, I know I am capable of that, that's for sure.

"The biggest difference is the quality of players. The Championship is a very tough league but you are playing against the best players in the world and to have a shot against them every week is fantastic.

"Just to walk out, the whole surroundings of being in the Premier League. It's a whole different ball game, so you have to adapt to that lifestyle as well."

The lifestyle change includes multiplied scrutiny. Far more column inches were devoted to Jose Mourinho accusing the feather-ruffling Barnes of a 'criminal tackle' on Nemanja Matic in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge than when he was accused of tripping a referee while with Albion.

Barnes received a red card and seven-match ban from the FA for the tripping offence at Bolton, although he still protests his innocence. Matic was the one sent-off at Chelsea, for retaliation.

"We just played our normal game," Barnes said. "They didn't like it and then you take stick. That's part and parcel of the game. You move on. Everyone in the ground saw that it was just 'play on'. I don't even need to talk about it."

And that trip? "I don't really look back to that. I just let you guys (media) look into that. People bring it up.

"I believe in my own ability. I know what I'm good at and what I am not and what needs improving. I know what I need to get back to once this injury is out of the way."

The irascible streak makes Barnes the player he is, an unselfish team man with a capacity to pop up with important goals. The type of irritant striker defenders, and managers, would rather have on their side than against them.

Burnley will be keen to have him back (he is under contract at Turf Moor until June 2017). Greer, Calderon and company - friendship aside - less so.

After April 2, perhaps, and that rematch with Burnley at the Amex, by which stage the dual promotion wish of Barnes might well still be alive.

Burnley under Dyche have recovered resolutely from relegation. Albion keep getting the job done under Chris Hughton, as Barnes witnessed first hand with that club record-breaking win against MK Dons, stretching the unbeaten league run from the end of last season to 17 matches.

He said: The gaffer (Dyche) is great. He knows exactly what we need and gets it across to us. We all want to bounce back and get back into the Premier League asap.

"We know this is a tough league. It's obviously a totally different set-up now (at Albion) but, make no mistake about it, they've got great players, and they have found a way of winning.

"In the Championship it's tough to keep winning because you know anybody can beat anyone on their day."