Scott Parker reckons his Burnley squad are ready for “the next push” in the Championship promotion race as they prepare to host Sunderland.

The Clarets have had nearly two weeks since their last league fixture – a hard-fought victory at Ewood Park – and made 11 changes at Reading in the FA Cup last weekend.

The players were given some downtime following the derby at Rovers, and Parker believes it was important to refresh both physically and mentally following a hectic schedule over the Christmas period.

The games come thick and fast again now, with a trip to Plymouth and another big home match against Leeds on the horizon, but the head coach is embracing the challenges ahead.

“It has probably been the most important thing after the schedule we came out of, which was a pretty tiring one in that Christmas period,” he told The Lancashire Telegraph.

“I think it was key for us to take a breath, restock a little bit and give the players a bit of downtime.

“We’ve rebooted them over the last week or so and got them back into it, ready for the next push with the games coming up.”

It is set to be a tough test against the Black Cats, who currently sit fourth in the table and just a couple of points behind the Clarets.

“They are a very good side, I think they have proven that over the course of this season,” Parker added.

“They are a well coached team and have done remarkably well. They have individuals and pace in their team which we need to be aware of. We have faced similar teams and qualities, and we have dealt with that pretty well.

“As always, we will approach this game, try to be as dominant as we can, try to take everything we can out of the game and nullify them as best we can.”

Things look rather different at Turf Moor compared to when the sides met at the Stadium of Light early in the season.

The Black Cats won 1-0 that day as the Burnley squad went through significant change, with a number of key players departing the club in the following days.

“It is not even comparable where we currently are as a team and as a group," Parker admitted.

"We were at the height of things, like I have said before, which were pretty unprecedented at that moment in time. Things that probably weren't out there in the open but clearly we were in a bit of a state in that fixture.

"From that point to now is not even comparable. It's a tough game again on Friday night, like it was back then, but certainly I feel like we are in a better place.

"Certainly psychologically, as a group, we are in a much better place and fundamentally, in terms of where we have come from and how we have developed along the way."

Zian Flemming is in good form (Image: PA)

There is a much less chaotic feel to the current window, with Ashley Barnes returning to East Lancashire and Oliver Sonne arriving from Silkeborg so far.

Former Liverpool and Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has been training with the squad but Parker says nothing has been decided at this stage.

“He is training at the moment,” said the Clarets chief. “He has been with us now for three or four days, training with us.

“We decided to bring Jonjo in, we understand his quality. We just wanted to have a closer look on Jonjo, we have not made a decision yet.

“We will have those conversations in a couple of days with Jonjo, on how I see things and where he sits with it.

“In the short space of time Jonjo has been in here, he has been first class. He has applied himself in the right way, but it is still too early to say (if he will be staying).”

The likes of Morgan Whittaker and Ryan Manning have also been linked with moves to Turf Moor before the end of the window, but Parker didn’t want to comment on individuals.

When asked how things are shaping up on the transfer front, he replied: “Progressing but, as always, the January transfer window is very difficult.

“We want to try and be active if we can. There are obviously different factors into that – how you can be and whether you can be, for many reasons.

“I have stated before that maybe some players will leave the football club and try to get some more playing time.

“We will look around to see what we add, we won’t bring anyone in here who can’t add anything. We will see what happens.”

Zian Flemming bagged a brace in extra time at Reading last weekend, and the 26-year-old has now scored five times in his last seven matches.

“We need to understand the dynamics of moving to a different club, albeit he came out of this division so it was an easier transition for him,” Parker added.

“Coming out of Millwall, a different way of playing and a lot of information that Zian has had to absorb in a short space of time, it can sometimes be pretty drowning and difficult.

“This is a player who’s fully engaged and you are probably starting to see that. He is probably starting to become more comfortable in new surroundings and on the pitch as well.

“He is in fine form and he’s been brilliant since he came in really. Some people may question whether he’s a striker at times or a 10, I see both.

“He can be that player who leads the line and be a platform for us, and he has proven that over the short space of time he has been with us. Long may that continue and I still see loads of room for improvement with him as well.”