GLEN Little could put himself in the frame for a return to the Clarets starting line-up at Gillingham on Saturday after testing himself against some of the cream of the country's defenders today.

Burnley went to Manchester United's training ground for a behind-closed-doors work-out against the Premiership champions in the build-up to their weekend trip to the Priestfield Stadium.

And Little was set to figure alongside fellow long-term injury victim Lee Briscoe and a handful of other senior players manager Stan Ternent was keen to have a run-out.

Ternent said: "We need some of the lads to play some games. We've not had a reserve game for a while and we've also got one or two players coming back from injury who need it.

"I think they're going to play one or two who are coming back from injury as well so it will be good for us and good for them."

The Clarets chief had been keen to fix up a mid-week friendly to give the likes of Briscoe and Little the chance to build up their match fitness and with United boss Alex Ferguson eager to do the same the game was ideal for both parties.

United were set to include Andy Cole, Jaap Stam, David May and possibly Ronnie Johnsen as part of their rehabilitation to guarantee a good test for the Clarets players.

And Little would need to get the best part of 90 minutes under his belt to have any chance of a starting berth at Gillingham after ending almost seven weeks out with hamstring trouble with a substitute's appearance against Scunthorpe United last Saturday.

The winger picked up a minor ankle knock in that game but has shaken that off and physio Ian Liversedge believes he will have made good progress by the weekend's trip to Kent.

He said: "Glen has been a bit unlucky with injuries but he's okay after his kick on the ankle.

"He's got two very nice stud marks on his ankle but you could see that he didn't want to come off and to be honest he looked like his old self.

"He has trained all week and it will do him good to have a full session this week."

Burnley head for Gillingham looking to end a run of five League defeats after stopping the rot with Saturday's FA Cup draw and Ternent inists his players will bounce back.

He said: "It's back to base camp. The biggest thing of all is the confidence factor, but there's no reason for it. The crowd want for the players to do well.

"We've got to better than we've been doing. That's the bottom line of it. And we will. The players are good enough."

The Clarets are currently 10th in the table and despite the trials and tribulations of December and the holiday period, midfield schemer Paul Cook believes they are still well placed.

He said: "Ideally our target is to get promoted this year. If we're not aiming to get promoted we shouldn't be in the First Division.

"But again we're realists and we know that whatever we do this year is good for the club.

"The important thing is to stay in the division and that's been our priority all along.

"We're not doing badly. I've played in this division quite a lot. I've had a number of years in this league and I know what it's like.

"You look at Wolves who came here last week with massive support, who've spent millions of pounds yet they are six points behind us in the league and they are a club who think they should be up there.

"We're going along okay. We've had a bad run but to be 10th in this league, which is a very good quality league, is good, in my opinion.

"And if we can carry on doing what we're doing, apart from the last few games, believing in how we play and all pulling that way, we'll be fine."

Cook is hoping to shake off a bout of flu in time for the trip to Gillingham and is expected back in training along with fellow victims Mitchell Thomas and Ronnie Jepson tomorrow.

Burnley have been given 1,900 tickets by Scunthorpe for next Tuesday night's FA Cup replay at Glanford Park.

Tickets, priced at £13 for adults and £6.50 for concessions, go on sale to season-ticket holders on Thursday with any remaining tickets going on open sale next Monday.