TEENAGE keeper James Salisbury will make his debut for the Clarets reserves tonight when they take on Rotherham United at Turf Moor (7.15pm).

And reserve team boss Ronnie Jepson said: "It will be a good experience for him and we will get to see how he copes with it.

"Like all young players he has got to learn how to step up a level and a good display will give him confidence."

Salisbury has been in the firing line for the youth side in two heavy cup defeats in the space of a few days but he emerged from the 3-0 defeat at Maine Road at the weekend with a great deal of credit.

He has been impressing goalkeeping coach Alex Stepney on the training ground and on Sunday a series of fine stops helped to keep the margin of defeat down.

He now steps into the gap left by Greek keeper Luigi Cennamo who is suspended following his dismissal against Sheffield United last month.

Salisbury came off the bench that night for his first taste of reserve team action and his understudy tonight will be another youngster, schoolboy Michael Hale.

It is three weeks since the Clarets last played a reserve match, the 6-0 romp against Port Vale, but Jepson has kept them ticking over with a couple of practice games behind closed doors.

"We are all looking forward to the game because it has been a while but at least we have a run of three games now," said Jepson, who is still to see his side lose since taking charge earlier this season.

And while the side has a number of other young players alongside Salisbury, Jepson hailed the influence of a couple of the more senior pros.

"The likes of Lennie Johnrose and Gordon Armstrong are top class and you always know both will give 110 per cent," he said. "They show the younger players what a great attitude they have got to the game."

Like Salisbury, Joel Pilkington and Mark Rasmussen were in FA Youth Cup action at the weekend while Andrew Leeson, John Williamson and Bradley Maylett are all included.

In attack the experienced Tony Ellis lines up alongside young Dimitri Papadopoulos.

Burnley Reserves (v Rotherham at Turf Moor ko 7.15): Salisbury, Leeson, Armstrong, Williamson, McGregor, Johnrose, Maylett, Pilkington, Papadopoulos, Ellis, Rasmussen. Subs: Shandran, Hale, Waine, O'Neill, Eves.