SOMEWHERE in tomorrow's papers there will be a story about the Worthington Cup being the "worthless" cup.

Some so-called "big" sides will doubtless put out their second string as they repeat the mantra: "Only the Premiership matters, only the Premiership matters."

The football authorities have done little to alter the perception that this is a tin-pot cup by making Middlesbrough and Newcastle play each other on a Monday night, two days before their cup games.

Young kids, senior pros exiled to the reserves and transfer misfits will all get their chance because the once great Football League Cup has been undermined, undersold and under-estimated.

That is why tonight's game at Turf Moor should be a belter, because it is important for both teams albeit for different reasons.

For the home side it is a matter of form and finances. The Clarets, £4million in debt following the collapse of ITV Digital, have been given a valuable cash boost by having tonight's match with Spurs screened live on Sky, as well as hopefully attracting a sizeable crowd. How they would love the same again in Round Four.

Having lost three league games on the bounce they are also offered the chance to find their form once again and give themselves a boost ahead of Saturday's visit by Coventry.

But in tonight's opponents they have to take on one of the clubs for whom the Worthington Cup could be worth its weight in gold.

Tottenham lost last year's final to Blackburn and with it the chance of European football. They currently sit fifth in the Premiership, high enough to get into the UEFA Cup but Glenn Hoddle knows that this cup does offer a great chance of returning to continental action. But why on earth don't more teams look at the competition and think: "Hey, we can win this thing."

I mean no disrespect to any club mentioned below but the recent roll of honour for the competition is hardly top class.

Blackburn Rovers, Liverpool (beating first division Birmingham on penalties), Leicester (beating first division Tranmere), Spurs, Chelsea, Leicester (again) and Villa.

Strange that the two best clubs sides of the past decade, Manchester United and Arsenal, don't even figure in the finalists, clearly believing they have bigger fish to fry.

That may be true, and could also apply to Liverpool although their trophy cabinet is hardly bursting at the seams, but what excuse does any other Premiership side have?

Bolton put out their reserves in the last round and were promptly put out by near neighbours Bury. The theory was that Premiership points are all that matter but I have not noticed a great improvement in form now the Trotters have got rid of the unwanted "distraction" of the Worthington Cup.

Losing can become a habit just as easily as winning does and throwing the towel in on one of only three domestic competitions appears incredibly short sighted.

To be honest, ask most players how they would like to keep fit and they would probably choose playing matches instead of turning out on the training ground.

And ask the fans who make the trip to the Millennium Stadium for the final next year whether it is a worthless competition and the answer will be a loud "NO WAY!"

When I was young the League Cup and then Milk Cup was shared in six of seven seasons by Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, two clubs dominating Europe under two of the greatest managers the game has ever seen.

If it was good enough for Brian Clough and Bob Paisley, I am damn sure it is good enough for today's bosses.