The 27-year-old, on a month's loan from Manchester City, will don the number nine shirt in the starting eleven as he bids to help Burnley halt a run of just one win in ten league games.

"He will start tonight," confirmed Clarets boss Stan Ternent. "I've been chasing him for a while but he has never been available on loan until now. We need somebody who can lead the line.

"He is a good target man and a quality striker."

The Somerset frontman met up with his new team-mates this morning at training.

And there will be one familiar face in Burnley winger Glen Little after the two played together at Crystal Palace.

"Gareth has played at Sheffield United and at Manchester City and so he has played at a high level. We're hoping he will do a good job," said Little.

"He is a tall lad and scores goals. The gaffer is looking for someone else. Mooro is not a target man -- he has got the pace -- and maybe we need someone tall who can get on the end of crosses."

The Clarets have no fresh injury worries for the visit of table-topping Fulham who have lost just three games all season -- against Preston, Stockport and Birmingham.

And Ternent is waiting until the last minute to make an assessment on former Cottager Kevin Ball who is still suffering the effects of a flu bug which has kept him out of the last two games.

"The bug has knocked him for six,"admitted Ternent. "We will have a look at him today. He has done some running so we will see."

It will be a blow if Ball misses out but Ternent is ready for Fulham.

"I'm looking forward to it. They are top of the table so we will see how close or how far off we are.

"It isn't a good time at the moment but that's what being a manager is all about.

"You have got to take the rough with the smooth.

"They are on a different planet to us financially but it is not the size of the dog but the size of the fight that's in it and we'll have a look tonight."

And skipper Steve Davis echoed those sentiments.

"Fulham is a big test for everyone.

"We will dust ourselves down and have a go.

"The bigger they are the harder they fall and we will have a go at them and see where we go from there."

Classy midfielder John Collins is back in the Fulham fold after three months out with a hamstring injury.

The former Celtic, Monaco and Rangers man returned for their 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, replacing French under 21 international Fabrice Fernandes who was rested.

Striker Barry Hayles could also return after making a comeback in the reserves following an ankle injury which has kept him out since New Year's Day.

Burnley from: Michopoulos, Thomas, Cox, Davis, Armstrong, Weller, Branch, Moore, Johnrose, Mullim, Little, Taylor, Crichton, Cook, Payton, Mellon, Maylett.

Fulham from: Taylor, Finnan, brevett, Melville, Symons, Clark, J Collins, Goldbaek, Saha, Boa Morte, Hayles, Davis, Fernandes, Hahnemann, Moller, Riedle, Neilson, Stolcers.