AFTER his disappointing display against Sheffield United at the weekend a number of national newspapers have already written off Paul Gascoigne's move to Burnley as a foolish one for both parties.

But one man who still believes it will pay off for everyone is his former Spurs skipper Gary Mabbutt.

The former England defender claimed: "I know Paul well and I can tell Burnley fans, he will not want to let anybody down.

"He needs to be playing week in week out and when he gets fully fit he will prove he has still got great ability.

"He may have lost a bit of pace but he has still got outstanding talent. He wants to be part of the action, he knows he is getting older but he can still play.

"I have a lot of respect for Paul and if it had not been for the serious injuries he has had he would have been the greatest player this country has ever produced.

"He is still one of the world greats for me and I would pay to watch him play at Turf Moor."

But Mabbutt, who currently works for the FA in their international development programme, warned that his friend will have to be quick on his feet if he is to escape some of the attention that opposing players will be paying him over the next few games.

"Going to Burnley he will be up against players who want to make their mark against him," he said. "They will want to prove that he is not the player he was."

Gazza has also been backed to succeed by his former boss Peter Shreeves who said: "He needs to be Burnley's Mr Cool."

Despite being his manager for one season at White Hart Lane, Shreeves regrets that he never got the chance to work with him as it was the season he was out injured with cruciate ligament problems.

"I think he will do a fantastic job for Burnley," he said. "Stan (Ternent) is a very experienced manager and he knows what he is doing.

"To be honest I had wanted to sign him when I was the manager at Sheffield Wednesday.

"We had Chris Waddle on the staff with us and they are great pals. I had had him before when I was Tottenham manager but didn't work with him because of the injury that kept him out the whole of that season.

"But when I was at Hillsborough earlier this season he played for Everton reserves and I can honestly say that he never once wasted the ball.

"I was in charge of a first division team at Hillsborough, I know the demands that exist at that level and I was still keen to sign him. I don't think there is anyone better when it comes to having the vision to deliver the killer final ball and that is why I made an enquiry to Everton."

And Shreeves, who was recently appointed as the manager of Nationwide Conference side Barnet, believes that the prospect of Gascoigne playing in the same side as Ian Moore and Glen Little is one that will thrill the Burnley fans and frighten opposing defences.

"I think both Moore and Little are very good players and I would have thought they will love playing alongside Gazza," he said. "Burnley have shown this season that they are a good team but I think they will become better with Gazza.

"The player has had more than his share of problems but he is a lovely lad and I wish him and Burnley well."