THE Clarets could be fielding their youngest ever reserve side when they take on Walsall at Turf Moor tonight.

Reserve boss Ronnie Jepson admitted he is scratching around for players but he insisted: "That is because players like Richard Chaplow and Matty O'Neill are needed in the first team and I am delighted with that.

"The results of the reserves are less important than the fact that we can use these games to bring players through.

"I have been very happy with how Chappy and Knocker have done and they have used reserve games to get the manager's eye. The role for the reserves is to get injured players fit, help players find form and bring youngsters through.

"Tonight there are no injured players ready to come back and so it will be a very young side. It is not ideal having a lot of schoolkids in the squad but we have no option.

"I have never known an injury crisis like it but it is not really a problem for me, it is a problem for the manager.

"We have been told we will be playing against a youngish Walsall side so it should be a good match. I hope the fans will come along and cheer the lads on."

The Clarets have been forced to field young sides all season long with resources severely stretched and they are currently second from bottom in the Avon Insurance Premier Division.

Bury are already relegated and one other team will go down with them with one team coming up from both the East and West divisions. The Clarets, with three games left are a point behind Oldham, who have just one match left. Their last games are against Tranmere and Bury next week.