TOP-GUN Andy Payton could soon be back in business for the Clarets.

The 14-goal leading scorer has been on the bench for six of the last seven games as Ian Moore and on-loan striker Gareth Taylor have spearheaded the Burnley attack.

But manager Stan Ternent insists that Payton is still in his thoughts and with Burnley bagging just one goal in their last four games, the striker's return may not be far away.

Ternent said: "The situation with Andy is quite simple. I haven't selected him over the last few weeks.

"He has been fantastic in training and he will be back before too long.

"All I do is select the best team week-in, week-out and he is part of the squad. I have a clutch of strikers at the club, people are selected on merit and everyone will get their chance.

"He's a goalscorer. He has scored goals all his career and we haven't seen the last of Andy Payton."

Payton would be a definite starter against Queens Park Rangers at Turf Moor on Saturday if the Clarets are unable to tie up a deal to extend Taylor's loan from Manchester City before this afternoon's 5pm transfer deadline.

However, Burnley are still keen to bring in the former Crystal Palace and Sheffield United front man until the end of the season and provided City receive no last-ditch cash bids for the 28-year-old then he looks odds-on to finish the campaign as a Clarets player.

Taylor would be a useful acquisition but there was unlikely to be any further new arrivals before the deadline.

"We're not in desperate straits. There's no need to panic and we can keep our powder dry. There's no need to do any last-minute transfer business," confirmed chairman Barry Kilby.

Burnley have maintained their interest in Bournemouth defender Eddie Howe but with no relegation or promotion issues at stake don't need to try and tempt the Second Division club with a big fee.

Any deal may now wait until the summer when Ternent will move onto the next phase of re-shuffling his squad, with no further departures expected today either.

Meanwhile, Burnley won't come face-to-face with Bury midfielder and one-time loan transfer target Nick Daws on Saturday after he rejected a move to Queens Park Rangers.