Kazenga LuaLua is ready for a winter of physical battles in the Championship.

But he has refused to criticise referees for not giving him enough protection.

LuaLua was on the receiving end of some rough treatment from Middlesbrough last Saturday.

He was also wrongly booked for an alleged dive on his only other start of the season, at home to Doncaster in August.

LuaLua, hoping for the chance to shine against Burnley on Saturday, said: “You can’t blame the referee but some of the stuff is hard to take.

“You have just got to get on with it and look to the future.

“I knew from the beginning at Middlesbrough that their player Justin Hoyte knew me and he must have told their full-back to get tight.

“I knew it was going to be like that.

“I expect more of the same”

Burnley are near the top of the Championship fair play chart and come south with impressive attacking options.

Former Swindon goal-getter Charlie Austin and Northern Ireland international Martin Paterson proved their recovery from injury by coming off the bench in last week’s 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth.

They will compete with on-loan Wolves striker Sam Vokes and 11-goal top scorer Jay Rodriguez for what could be just one out-and-out striker’s berth at The Amex.