BURNLEY hit the go-karting circuit for a team bonding session during the international break. Jay Rodriguez wants to make sure they hit top gear against Leeds United tomorrow.

The Clarets know they will need to if they are to recover from defeats in their last two games.

On a personal note, Rodriguez is desperate to end his goal drought, and hopes the opposition provide a good omen.

For after scoring against the Yorkshire club last December, the 22-year-old went on to get 11 of his 15 goals and finish joint top scorer with Chris Eagles.

Rodriguez already has eight to his name this season, but with his last securing a 1-0 win at Millwall back at the beginning of October, he feels he is due a flurry.

“It did (start a run of goals last season),” he said, recalling the last Turf Moor encounter with Leeds. “Hopefully I can do it again this year.

“It was a good time for me when I scored the goal last year and now I want to carry on. Frustration (at not scoring) has crept in but you’ve just got to concentrate and know that it will come.

“I’ve been working hard and getting in to those positions to score the goals.

“You get frustrated but you try not to let it affect your game. You just concentrate on getting another chance, getting in the right positions and it will come. I just try to stay positive.

As a striker I always aim to score more goals and hopefully they’ll be just around the corner.”

Rodriguez has taken some reassurance, at least, that the team isn’t just relying on him for ammunition, with strike partner Charlie Austin leading the way with nine, and winger Ross Wallace scoring four of his six in each of the last four games.

“It’s really good to play with Charlie. He’s a good lad and I enjoy training with him as well. It’s a nice partnership.

“Ross has scored some great goals and some vital ones as well.

"He’s a great player and it’s nice that there’s goals coming for him,” said the Burnley-born striker, who was this week crowned Championship player of the year at the North West Football Awards.

“It was a good night. I was surprised to be nominated so to win it was even better. I’m really happy with it,” Rodriguez continued.

“It’s been a really good 12 months for me, especially last year to break in to the team and get a run of games which I was really happy with. I just hope it continues.

“I’ve improved as a player and I think that’s just with the experience of the Championship and playing with good players.

"I know I’ve got a lot of improving to do and a lot of hard work to put in.

“All the players in the squad are looking to improve and we’re looking to build as a team.

"The main thing is to work hard and we’re all doing that.

"It’s a work in progress and we’re doing everything we can to improve as a team and as individual players.”

“We need to find that consistency but we’re all heading in the right direction to get the wins that we need.”

And Rodriguez hopes their hard work is reflected in performances and results as they look to set the record straight not only after back-to-back defeats, but also a disappointing outcome at home to Leeds last season, after surrendering a 2-0 half-time lead to lose 3-2 towards the end of Brian Laws’ reign.

“It was a massive disappointment because they scored in the last few minutes,” he said.

“They’re always good games against Leeds and hopefully we can get the win this time.”

“It should be a really good atmosphere, they are the games that you look forward to. They’ll bring a lot of fans, it will be a good game for the television and we’ll all be up for it.

“The last two results have made us hungrier. We want to put things right and we want those three points.”