GRAHAM BRANCH'S injury agony is to be prolonged -- by at least two months.

The 29-year-old had hoped that last season's hurt would evaporate when he started the new 2001-2002 campaign but his luck is out again.

Counted out for the last ten games of last term with a knee injury, his progress had been more than encouraging in the pre-season build-up.

But an Achilles tendon injury sustained in last weekend's 2-1 friendly defeat at the hands of Premiership cosmopolitans Chelsea at Turf Moor is worse than first feared and has brought another prolonged lay-off.

"Graham has had to be put in plaster to solve his Achilles injury as his ankle has got to be immobilised," explained Burnley boss Stan Ternent.

"He will be in plaster for a month and then it could be eight to ten weeks before he achieves a full recovery.

"Obviously it is not ideal, but these are problems that we have to deal with and, in some ways, it is one of those situations where at least we know he will need the time to get everything right in terms of fitness."

Liverpool-born Branch will not be alone on the sidelines for the opening game at Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday evening as defender Mitchell Thomas will join him in the Hillsborough stands.

Thomas has failed to overcome a groin problem but Ternent was hopeful that the meeting with the Owls would be the only game where the 36-year-old would be an absentee.

"Mitchell has been going well and he is getting a lot nearer full fitness," revealed Ternent.

"But he wasn't played in the pre-season, he is still not in full training and still having sessions with the physios, so really the weekend was always going to be a little too soon for him."