THE senior players at Turf Moor all enjoyed the weekend off and, thanks to Mother Nature, so did the youngsters.

Youth team manager Terry Pashley explained: "We were supposed to play Wigan down at Gawthorpe but torrential rain meant that we had to call the game off. There was no way we could have played."

The unexpected blank Saturday means Pashley's young guns are champing at the bit as they look ahead to this weekend and the Youth Alliance Cup tie at Preston North End.

The Clarets lost their opening fixture at home against Tranmere Rovers, the winning goal being scored deep into injury time and just seconds before the final whistle.

Paul Barratt had scored what looked like a late leveller for Burnley after Tranmere took a second half lead.

Meanwhile North End drew their opening match 2-2 against the fourth team in the group, Blackpool.

The pitches at Gawthorpe were still very heavy yesterday as Pashley's players returned to training with the only injury problem still midfielder Robert Grimes who has been struggling since the league fixture against North End at the start of September.

"Everyone else is fit and raring to go," said Pashley who knows that a victory is vital to keep the club's cup hopes alive."

At the moment there is no rearranged date for the league match against Wigan. "Games are normally played on a weekend but it is a question of finding a place in the calendar," said Pashley.

"We may have to play it midweek but we will just sort it out with Wigan and take it from there." THE senior players at Turf Moor all enjoyed the weekend off and, thanks to Mother Nature, so did the youngsters.

Youth team manager Terry Pashley explained: "We were supposed to play Wigan down at Gawthorpe but torrential rain meant that we had to call the game off. There was no way we could have played."

The unexpected blank Saturday means Pashley's young guns are champing at the bit as they look ahead to this weekend and the Youth Alliance Cup tie at Preston North End.

The Clarets lost their opening fixture at home against Tranmere Rovers, the winning goal being scored deep into injury time and just seconds before the final whistle.

Paul Barratt had scored what looked like a late leveller for Burnley after Tranmere took a second half lead.

Meanwhile North End drew their opening match 2-2 against the fourth team in the group, Blackpool.

The pitches at Gawthorpe were still very heavy yesterday as Pashley's players returned to training with the only injury problem still midfielder Robert Grimes who has been struggling since the league fixture against North End at the start of September.

"Everyone else if fit and raring to go," said Pashley who knows that a victory is vital to keep the club's cup hopes alive."

At the moment there is no rearranged date for the league match against Wigan. "Games are normally played on a weekend but it is a question of finding a place in the calendar," said Pashley.

"We may have to play it midweek but we will just sort it out with Wigan and take it from there."