THE comeback of Ricky Burns has been delayed by injury.

The former two-weight world champion had been due back in the ring on September 13 in Manchester.

Although his opponent was to be confirmed, Burns was desperate to get his career back on track after his disastrous points defeat in a WBC world lightweight title final eliminator at the hands of unheralded Montenegrin Dejan Zlaticanin, at Braehead Arena on June 27.

But Burns' manager Alex Morrison revealed: "Ricky has sustained a shoulder injury during training and has had to attend a specialist at the Buckingham Clinic.

"Right now it is unclear just how serious the injury is but clearly it has put the September date out of the question and we have now had to put things back until early October.

"It is unfortunate as Ricky is desperate to get back into action and get the Zlaticanin defeat out of his system, and he has been working well.

"But you have to listen to your body and what is most important is that when Ricky does return he is in the best possible shape. So we will take no chances."

Burns was also understood to have sustained an elbow injury during his tight split-points' decision reverse at the hands of Zlaticanin, which has hindered his early comeback preparations.

It is now understood a new date on Saturday, October 4, at the First Direct Arena, in Leeds, has been pencilled in.

Burns' promoter Eddie Hearn is determined to give his man a break from fighting in the goldfish-bowl environment of Glasgow, which the ebullient Matchroom fight chief reckons has put extra pressure on the 31-year-old as he bids to resurrect his career. There has been some debate too about which weight the fallen former champion will campaign at.

Hearn hopes to persuade the Scot to move up to light-welterweight but Burns himself confirmed via his Ricksterko tweet account on Wednesday that he intends to stay within the 135lbs lightweight limit if he can make the weight without a debilitating struggle.

For his part, Morrison has ­admitted that he has urged the Coatbridge pugilist to make the move up to 140lbs.

Big Alex said: "I think with Ricky being a big guy for lightweight, both in terms of his frame and the fact he is 5ft 10in in height, it has always meant that however methodical he is about making lightweight, at some stage a move up would be advisable.

"I think we might well be at that stage now. When you struggle to make weight it is like suffering from a bad bout of the flu in that you just feel weakened all over by it."

When it comes to the type of opposition Burns will face when he does return, Morrison has no doubt about his preference.

The fight godfather said: "I'd like to see Ricky facing an opponent of the same physical stature as himself.

"He has always struggled with small opponents and Zlaticanin was no exception to that.

"Regardless of the size it will be a meaningful opponent with decent pedigree."