ANDY Cooke is spending the weekend hard at work on the training ground as Burnley boss Stan Ternent fine-tunes his squad for a final assault on promotion.
The Clarets striker was left behind to gain full fitness for the crucial run-in as Burnley took on Oxford this afternoon.
With massive games coming up against top-six rivals Gillingham and Millwall next week, Ternent is determined to have a full compliment of players available.
And so those not named in the squad of 18 for today's Manor Ground showdown faced a two-day stint on the training ground to get them in tip-top shape for the last five games of the regular campaign.
Cooke, Gordon Armstrong and Tommy Cowan are working their way back to full fitness following injuries that have kept them out of contention in recent games. And they were joined by loan signing Gerry Harrison and Glen Little, who today started a three-match ban.
"They will be staying here and training hard over the weekend. In fact they have trained hard all week and they will be in again on Saturday and Sunday working," Ternent confirmed.
Cooke missed his third game in a row this afternoon following a thigh injury, while Armstrong has been sidelined by a dead leg and Cowan has been troubled by a niggling ankle problem that has affected him since his return from a loan spell at Cambridge. But with all three now on the verge of a return to first-team contention, along with Harrison, the Clarets should be close to full-strength as they look for the near maximum points haul which could yet take them up.
"If we can steer clear of injuries at Oxford, apart from Glen Little, we should have a full squad for the the final push. That's a big thing and it's a knack getting everyone fit at this time," Ternent added.
Oxford were the first obstacle in Burnley's way and experienced boss Denis Smith called on his players ahead of today's game to reverse their terrible home form to help secure Second Division survival.
"We've got three home games left and we are looking to win all three. If we can do that, we'll stay up," he said.
Meanwhile, trialist defenders John Boardman and Stephen Rose are staying on at Turf Moor, for the time being at least.
"We are still having a look at them," confirmed Ternent after the pair played their second game in the reserves at Tranmere Rovers in mid-week.
As things stand, the duo wouldn't be able to play any further Pontins League fixtures for the Clarets.
But Ternent explained that the situation could change.
"I could play them again with their club's permission or if I signed them but we will see where we are up to with that," he added.
Liverpool central defender Boardman has caught the eye in his two appearances, while Rose has a decent pedigree having come through the ranks at Manchester United.
The teenagers will both be looking for new clubs in the summer but it remains to be seen whether Burnley will be their next port of call.
"These things are like a two-way street. We can see if we like them and they will see if they like what's going on here," Ternent said.
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