Linfield's latest hero Billy Joe Burns last night admitted that it may be a while before he gets a run in the Blues line-up in his natural position.

The teenager is currently excelling at right-back after being handed his chance in the wake of an early-season injury crisis at Windsor Park.

He was named as the sponsors man-of-the-match against Newry City last Saturday and then on Tuesday night he scored his first goal for the club with a late, late strike which secured a point away to Glenavon.

Burns made his name in the second string as a centre-half, but like many before him — including the likes of current Northern Ireland international Gareth McAuley — he has found his way into the first-team blocked.

Manager David Jeffrey is well aware that there are a lot of highly talented kids knocking on the door, but while defensive pair William Murphy and Noel Bailie as well as striker Glenn Ferguson keep performing to the high standard demanded the youngsters will have to stay patient.

There has been no shortage of that virtue with Burns and now that he has broken into the team, he isn’t going to give up his place without a fight.

“I was brought up to train with the first-team about a year ago and it has really helped me improve my game,” said Burns.

“When you are marking Peter Thompson and Glenn Ferguson in training it is only going to help you get better and it has been really good for me.

“I have been waiting for my chance in the first-team since last year after playing against Glenavon in the CIS Cup and I came on against Glentoran in the Setanta Cup at the Oval.

“I can’t really blame the manager for not giving me a chance before because of the way William Murphy and Noel Bailie have been playing.

“They are quality players and have been quality players for years.

“People ask questions about how long they can go on for, but Winkie (Murphy) is still one of the fittest players at the club and seems to be fitter this year than he has been before.

“Getting in ahead of either of those two is going to be hard.”

Although he has quickly won over the hard to please Linfield fans, Burns is well aware that his place is under threat, even in the early stages of his first-team career.

Steven Douglas was due to miss the Newry City game after suffering an illness, but he recovered sufficiently to take a place on the bench.

Douglas was again among the substitutes when Burns scored that valuable goal at Stangmore Park on Tuesday evening and that should ensure his a place this evening when Institute visit Windsor Park and he knows that more high quality performances are needed to keep Douglas on the sidelines.

“I have been lucky to get my chance and it is usually through injuries that players get into a team,” said Burns.

“I got in because Steven Douglas was out and Conor Hagan got injured and I knew I had to do well to stay in the team.

“Hopefully I can keep playing well and keep my place, but I know how hard it is to do that.

“There are a couple of players who will be trying to get in ahead of me, but that is all good for the team.

“If I score a couple more goals then maybe that will help me keep my place. I will just have to wait and see what happens.”