TONIGHT'S match against Crewe Alexandra may come too soon for the Clarets walking wounded but manager Stan Ternent is determined to give his injured players every chance to be involved.

And he warned that with a crowded fixture list because of the early end to the season, this is just the type of situation all clubs will find themselves in.

Glen Little, Ian and Alan Moore and keeper Nik Michopoulos were all injured in the defeat at Carrow Road on Saturday and Ternent admitted: "The injury situation is not good.

"We had a few knocks, bumps and bruises but you have to expect that. Tonight's match is the fourth game in ten days and this is the reason that I am trying to build a big squad.

"I will give the players every chance and several players did not train yesterday as they had intensive treatment. I will give them every chance to get fit.

"But if any of the players don't make it, that will give an opportunity to someone else to come in and play for the shirt."

The 46 game first division campaign has been squeezed into an even tighter schedule this season, finishing on April 21ahead of next summer's World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

"At the end of this week we will have played 11 games and that means we will have had a quarter of the season by the end of September," said Ternent. "But that is the same for everyone else and so you just have to get on with it."

With doubts about so many key players Ternent at least had some good news for Clarets fans about defender Ian Cox and midfielder Paul Weller.

"Coxy was back in full training and he is looking good," he said, although tonight's match may again have come a little too soon for a return to the starting line-up.

"And Paul Weller's fine after coming on as a sub against Norwich at the weekend."

Alex gave Burnley two tough games last season, the Clarets winning 1-0 in the corresponding fixture but being beaten 4-2 at Gresty Road.

"Crewe has got a good side and you know you will always get a good game for football from them," said Ternent.

"They played well at the weekend and beat Watford but they have not got a point away from home yet this season. Let's just hope it stays that way."

It is more than seven months since the Clarets lost two games on the trot and the manager is looking for the same sort of response his players showed after losing at home to Manchester City, their only previous setback this season.

The following match saw them win a classic at Bradford and Ternent said: "Tonight's match is a good chance for us to bounce straight back.

"We did not perform well in the first half at Norwich but generally our level of performance has been good. The standards the players have set themselves are good and the defeat at Norwich was just a little setback. You don't expect to win every game in a season."

Even with the quarter mark of the campaign fast approaching the Burnley boss feels that the league table is still taking shape.

"It is still early days and you will find that the cream always rises to the top," he said.

Tonight Burnley has the chance to make sure that is exactly where they stay - the top.