BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent plans to use the next fortnight to try and strengthen his squad as he targets a return to top spot.

Friday night's scheduled cash with Watford at Turf Moor has been called off because of international call-ups for three Hornets players.

That means the Clarets go into the break in second place in Division One behind big spending Wolverhampton Wanderers, having enjoyed most of last month at the top.

And while Ternent hopes the break will revitalise his team after a hectic start to the new season, he also admitted that he is now looking at bringing in some fresh blood.

"We have got a few injuries to key players and that has affected us," he said, with the lack of the creative talents of Glen Little and Alan Moore particularly telling in the narrow 1-0 defeat against West Brom on Saturday.

"I'd really like to strengthen the squad and we will have to see what materialises this week," he said. "There is the possibility we might be able to do something about it.

"West Brom have got two strikers, Jason Roberts and Danny Dichio, who would probably have played today but they were still able to play the other two.

"We are not in that league and that is what we are playing against.

"We know it is not a level playing field and we had a bad day but I just hope that we will be able to kick on."

Ternent has been working within a budget set by the board as the club looks to break even for the first time since Barry Kilby took over as chairman three years ago.

But the chairman has promised to look at any request for support in the transfer market and put it to the board saying: "All requests will be treated on their merit."

Ternent confessed that the current run is worrying but he prefers to look at the overall picture at the quarter mark of the season.

"It is a big concern that we have taken only one point from the last nine," he said.

The defeat at The Hawthorns following another loss at Norwich City and the home draw with Crewe Alexandra.

"But I am an optimist not a pessimist and a run like that is more than compensated by the fact that we took 21 out of the first 24 available.

"We are still averaging two points a game and that is championship form."

Getting Little and Moore fit for action will be one priority over the next couple of weeks, although Republic of Ireland international Moore will not be available for the match at Nottingham Forest as he is suspended.

"I am hopeful Glen will be available and Coxy (Ian Cox) will also benefit from another fortnight's training," he said.

Tonight, after more than two weeks without a game, Clarets reserves are in action, like the first team on Saturday travelling down to West Brom.

It is new manager Ronnie Jepson's second game in charge, his first being a 2-2 draw against Wrexham last month.

Because of the current injury problems for the first team, Jepson's squad is likely to feature several of the club's youth team players.