ANDY Payton is rated as "touch and go" for Burnley's First Division opener at Bolton on Saturday week following confirmation that the striker has fractured a toe.

The injury was revealed following checks yesterday and Payton could now be out of action for between 10 days and two weeks.

Manager Stan Ternent confirmed: "He's got a little fracture in his toe which he did in training when Steve Davis stood on his foot.

"It's not that serious but it's a thing that's going to keep him out of training for a little while -- not a long time but maybe 10 days, maybe a fortnight. We'll see."

That will take it to the wire as regards the curtain-raiser at the Reebok Stadium, although Ternent has his fingers crossed that last season's 27-goal leading scorer will be back in time.

"I hope so, but that's going to be touch and go. We'll see because we just found that out yesterday," he added.

Payton walked gingerly onto the Turf Moor pitch prior to last night's 1-0 defeat in the warm-up game against Newcastle United to claim his promotion-winning medal along with the rest of last season's squad. He will obviously be ruled out of the Clarets' remaining pre-season fixtures against Manchester City tomorrow night and Rochdale on Friday and the injury is an untimely one for Burnley as they look to make a solid start to life in Division One. However, Ternent has brought in Northern Ireland international Phil Gray to contest a striking role and Andy Cooke won't relinquish his place in the attack lightly.

Cooke played the second 45 minutes last night and gave the Newcastle defence a few problems as the Clarets sought to cancel out Carl Cort's 26th-minute headed goal.

That ultimately proved beyond them but it was a decent showing by Burnley, who held their own for long periods against the Premiership side and looked more potent as the game went on.

"We did very well. I thought we did better in the second half than we did in the first," said Ternent.

"We got a bit bogged down at times in the first half but it was an excellent work-out against a very good Newcastle side.

"The fitness levels are improving. The only way you can get match fit is to play games so we've got six of them this week, three first-team and three reserve matches so they'll get some good work this week.

"Overall I'm very pleased. I think we played well and created a chance or two against very good opposition.

"We didn't look out of our depth, I didn't think."

New signings Gray, Kevin Ball and Lee Briscoe made their first appearances at Turf Moor as Ternent used 15 members of his senior squad.

Whether former Rangers midfielder Derek McInnes is added to that remains to be seen.

Ternent remained tight-lipped last night about the prospect of the Toulouse midfielder moving to Turf Moor following reports from the West Midlands that Burnley are vying with West Bromwich Albion for the 29-year-old's signature.