BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent may turn to France to bolster his striking options at Turf Moor, while checking out midfield reinforcements closer to home in the shape of Manchester City's Tony Grant.

The Clarets chief has taken Toulouse striker Eugene Dadi on trial and is running the rule over the 27-year-old front man.

Dadi played in Burnley's friendly at Manchester United on Thursday and has also been training with the first-team squad at Gawthorpe, as reported in later editions of yesterday's Lancashire Evening Teleghraph.

The 6ft-tall forward joined Toulouse for £500,000 in the summer having scored 17 goals last season for Austrian club Linz, with whom he played in the Uefa Cup.

"He's strong and not bad in front of goal," said former French World Cup star and Toulouse coach Alain Giresse, who signed the Ivory Coast-born striker.

Giresse has since been sacked, however, and Dadi would be available if Ternent sees enough to follow up his interest.

Ternent is also looking to strengthen in midfield and identified City's former Everton player Grant as a possible target.

The Burnley boss has enquired about Grant's position at Maine Road, although Barnsley today looked to be in poll position for his signature, having agreed a fee of £400,000 for the 26-year-old.

However, Burnley could yet be in the running if Grant wants to weigh up his options and West Brom, who recently had the creative midfield man on loan, are also expected to make another attempt to sign the player on a permanent basis.

City have also given a free transfer to play-maker Ian Bishop, who interested the Clarets earlier in the season. Bishop had talks with Sheffield Wednesday yesterday but a deal has not gone ahead.

Meanwhile, Clarets leading scorer Andy Payton is hoping to make his 400th League start at Gillingham tomorrow.

And a scoring return would be the perfect way for Payton to mark his third anniversary with the club.

The striker is champing at the bit after starting last week's game on the bench and having not found the net since December 2.

"I would like to get back to scoring goals as soon as possible as I haven't scored for a bit

"But I'm not worried about it. I've only got one less than this time last year. My main concern is getting back into the side, although there's a lot of competition.

"I'm sure they will come again," he said.

Payton still has 12 to his name this term and has been a mainstay of the Clarets attack since his arrival from Huddersfield when Burnley were in deep relegation trouble under Chris Waddle.

He added: "My first goal for the club was against Southend when we won but stayed rock-bottom. It's been a massive turnaround, first to stay up and then get promoted and now to be holding our own in he First Division.

"If you'd said that when I signed I wouldn't have believed it. We were rock bottom of the Second Division and I think people have forgotten that wasn't that long ago."

And, as ever, Payton is still chasing milestones.

"I just want to get back to getting some goals. I want to get 20 this season and 100 for the club and if the next two-and-a-half years are as good as the last three I'll be well happy with that," said the striker who has notched 74 for the Clarets so far.

Lee Briscoe will miss Burnley's attempt to end a run of five League defeats as he is expected to be out for 10 days with the hamstring strain he sustained in Thursday's friendly at Manchester United.

Brad Maylett has a thigh injury and Kevin Ballcompletes his three-match ban, although Ternent expects Glen Little to play some part in the game.

Burnley from: Michopoulos, Weller, Thomas, Cox, Davis, Smith, Mellon, Cook, Mullin, Moore, Branch, Payton, Johnrose, Jepson, Little, Armstrong, West, Crichton.

Gillingham: Bartram, Ashby, Pennock, Hope, Southall, Lewis, Smith, Saunders, Edge, Asaba, Shaw, Onuora, Gooden, Browning, Patterson, King, Thomson, Mitten.