RISING star Anthony Shandran has forced his way into the first-team picture at Turf Moor and will be in the Clarets squad for Saturday's trip to Crewe.

The 18-year-old striker bagged his seventh goal of the season in the reserves' 2-0 win at Barnsley on Tuesday night.

And boss Stan Ternent confirmed that Shandran, who recently signed his first professional contract, would be in the party for the game at Gresty Road.

Ternent admitted that Shandran is "pretty close" to first-team involvement and with five senior players ruled out this weekend the Geordie front man will get a useful taste of the senior set-up -- with a place on the bench an outside chance.

"He's still got a long way to go, but he's doing well. He can score goals," said the boss.

CLARETS trio Gordon Armstrong, Glen Little and John Mullin are standing by for a return to front-line action at Crewe on Saturday.

Manager Stan Ternent's squad has been seriously depleted by injury and suspension for the trip to Gresty Road, with Ian Cox, Lennie Johnrose and Micky Mellon suspended and Lee Briscoe and Ronnie Jepson injured.

All his senior players will therefore be pressed into service and Armstrong is set to be one of the main beneficiaries.

The experienced defender has twice deputised for Steve Davis in League games this season and done a solid job on each occasion.

And with Cox's ever-present record set to come to an end Armstrong, who had a sharpener in the reserves in mid-week, will slot into a back three alongside Davis and Mitchell Thomas, who plays his last game before a one-match ban.

Ternent's only decision is likely to come in midfield where he has to choose between Mullin and Little as Burnley go hunting a first away win since October against the bottom of the table side.

Mullin is desperate for a run of games and may get the nod ahead of Little, if the wingman is given a further week to ease his way back from injury via the bench.

Little is close to a starting spot after finally winning his battle with a hamstring problem and is looking for a further improvement in fortunes for himself and the team.

"The main thing is to stay in the First Division next season. You've got to think that should happen but we've got a couple of wins to get first, hopefully starting at Crewe," he said.

"We have got a few games to play against lower teams and hopefully we can perform well and get safe and then we've done what we set out to.

"Then once the pressure's off I'd like to think we can play a bit and enjoy it a bit more.

"The last month or so has been difficult and some of the results haven't been good. But we drew with Gillingham and then beat Barnsley and if can beat Crewe that will set us up again."

And with a top-10 finish still within their grasp, Little insists the Clarets still have plenty to play for.

"The gaffer's not the type to let you get away with half-measures," he added.

"I don't think there's any point in winning the next three, knowing you're safe and then losing the rest. We want to finish well.

"We have had a dip and we would admit that the last six weeks we have found it a bit tougher.

"But that's all part of learning about this division. If we finish well this season then next season we can learn from that experience and have another crack.

"You've got to be realistic. Two years ago we could have been in the Third Division and we could have been dead and buried.

"It's not nice being beaten by Blackburn, but look at a couple of years ago."

The Clarets will be featured live on Sky Television twice in a week when they look for derby revenge against Blackburn Rovers and Preston.

Burnley's game at Blackburn on Sunday, April 1(kick-off noon) had already been selected for coverage and the Turf Moor clash against North End has now been moved forward a day to Friday, April 6 (kick-off 7.45pm) for Sky screening.