GLEN LITTLE has what it takes to play in the Premier League - and he could do it with Burnley.

That is the view of the man who brought the winger to Turf Moor five years ago, Adrian Heath.

And the former Clarets player and manager claimed: "Buying Glen is the best bit of business I have ever done.

"Paying £275,000 for Marcus Bent was also good but at £50,000 Glen is probably the best value for money.

"Billy Hamilton was doing bits and pieces for us and he arranged a pre-season game in Northern Ireland.

"He told me there were a couple of young lads at Glentoran that I might want to look at, Glen and Stephen Kirk who is now at Hearts.

"We liked what we saw of Glen and invited him over. We were a bit strapped for cash or we might have gone for the other one as well.

"It was a time of really bad weather and so Glen had a week indoors with us but you could see straight away he could play.

"But I wanted to make sure he was not just an indoor player and the next week we went outside and he was outstanding.

"We wanted to sign him and, to be honest, he didn't take much persuading. He is great to have around the place, he never shuts up and he can keep the dressing room buzzing all on his own.

"He has not got the most pleasing of running styles but he is quicker than a lot of people think.

"And the best thing is he can go past people. When he is one on one you would always back him."

Little was again outstanding on Tuesday night as he inspired a great Clarets comeback at Gillingham and keeping him fit and firing will be a key factor in the continued battle for promotion, but Heath believes it is a battle the Clarets can win.

"I would have thought Glen might have moved by now but Burnley going up helped enormously and he is obviously very happy at Turf Moor," he said.

"Now the club might get into the play-offs or even better and I would love to see them in the Premier League.

"Stan (Ternent) and Sam (Ellis) have done a terrific job. They lack the sort of money that clubs like Birmingham and Wolves have got but the Premier League would be a better place for having Burnley in it. It is one of the great names."

Heath is now part of Peter Reid's coaching team at Sunderland but he still has great affection for the Clarets claiming: "The two and a half years I had as a player and the year as a manager are the most enjoyable of my career.

"I still get a lot of mail from Burnley and I have nothing but great memories."

Heath will be interested in events at Turf Moor on Sunday as the Clarets take on another of his former clubs, Sheffield United.

"My second time at Bramall Lane was very, very difficult," he said. "It was the right club at the wrong time."

But it is still the Burnley result that he looks for first and he is hoping that next season Sunderland will be looking forward to a trip to Turf Moor.