Clarets star Lee Briscoe has had a couple of the stitches removed from his knee wound, while Lennie Johnrose and Glen Little are also stepping up their rehabilitation work with physio Ian Liversedge.

However, the trio still face a couple of weeks out of action with Burnley likely to name the side that would have started against Watford last Saturday for the weekend visit of Nottingham Forest.

That will mean a full debut for £1 million signing Ian Moore against his former club which warmed up for their trip to Turf Moor with their sixth win in seven games courtesy of a 2-0 home victory over Sheffield United at the City Ground last night.

That result lifted David Platt's men above Burnley into sixth place.

Also last night, Clarets transfer target Dele Adebola was again on the scoresheet for Birmingham City. Adebola's seventh goal of the season helped City knock Newcastle United out of the Worthington Cup before he was stretchered off near the end with cramp.

Insiders at St Andrews insist the transfer-listed front man could go for £1.1 million but Blues boss Trevor Francis looks increasingly unlikely to let Adebola leave in his rich current vein of form, particularly to a First Division rival.

The Clarets have been allocated 6,000 tickets for the Boxing Day clash at Barnsley.

Priority sales to season-ticket holders and Clarets Foundation members startes next Monday at 9.15am. Voucher L is required with one ticket per voucher with any remaining tickets going on general sale on Monday, December 18.