A FORMER Real Madrid defender was on show at Turf Moor last night as Spanish trialist Victor Torres Mestre made his debut for Burnley reserves.

The left back impressed throughout the first half as he supplied a number of dangerous corners and crosses, one of which was headed home by striker Andy Payton.

Such was the homes side's dominance it was hard for him to show how well he can defend. He faded a little after the break and it remains to be seen whether Burnley boss Stan Ternent will pursue his interest in the latest foreign player to be looked at on trial.

"He put in an excellent cross for the goal and looked comfortable on the ball so we will see what the gaffer thinks," explained reserve team boss Ronnie Jepson.

In recent months there have been visiting players from Germany, Greece, Canada, Senegal and France but none have been asked to stay and build a career at Turf Moor.

The 31-year-old Mestre has an impressive list of former clubs, having started out at Spanish giants Real Madrid and then represented Espanyol, Bordeaux, Real Betis and most recently, Portuguese club Varzim.

The Clarets beat West Brom 3-1 but the result was less important than the fact it offered an opportunity for Ternent to see several members of his first team squad in action.

Burnley's new £1million striker Robbie Blake played his first full 90 minutes for the club but continued to look a little ring-rusty.

When he signed from Bradford City it was known that he was suffering from a stomach strain and although he is over that, the bad weather and packed fixture list have combined to hamper his attempts to get fully match fit.

"Robbie has been working really hard in training and he needs games," admitted Jepson. "That is the only way he will get match fit."

It was also an important match for summer signing Mark McGregor who once again captained the side.

He has become the forgotten man of Turf Moor as he has failed to dislodge Dean West at right back but with West suspended for the trip to Edgeley Park he may be handed the chance to show what he can do.

McGregor joined the Clarets from Wrexham but has only made one first team appearance, in the Worthington Cup defeat at home to Rushden and Diamonds at the start of the season.

Payton was another on show keen to impress the watching manager in the hope of forcing his way into the reckoning for Saturday's trip to Stockport County.

He scored one and could have had a couple more as he continued his come back from the horrific leg injury he suffered against Tranmere Rovers in January.

"Payts did what he's always done, took his goal well," said Jepson.

Mitchell Thomas, like Payton coming back from injury, played the full game at centre half while Brad Maylett was on the right flank for 84 minutes despite playing most of the second half at Walsall the previous night.

The match also marked a return to action for Greek goalkeeper Nik Michopoulos for the first time since he injured his calf in the FA Cup defeat at Cheltenham back in January.

But such was Burnley's dominance that he barely had a save to make, his work-out consisting of picking the ball out of the net after James Quinn's 81st minute shot appeared to have earned the Baggies an undeserved point.

"Nik did not have much to do but his kicking was good and it was lovely to see him back," said Jepson.

Michopoulos was on the bench against Walsall on Tuesday night but he knows he has a battle on his hands to displace Marlon Beresford who has impressed since returning to Burnley on loan from Middlesbrough.