BURY old boy Peter Swan could be the ace up Stan Ternent's sleeve as he plots the downfall of his former club in the Boxing Day derby at Gigg Lane.

Swan won't start Sunday's game as the Clarets look to keep the pressure on Second Division pacesetters Wigan and Preston.

But Ternent is perturbed by Burnley's poor goalscoring record away from Turf Moor and Swan could be a useful person to have on the bench after proving his fitness following a long-term knee injury.

The Clarets have found the net just six times on their travels - only Luton have a worse return - and the only chink in their armour this season has been the lack of away wins, with just two to go with their six draws from 10 games.

And Ternent confirmed: "We have only scored six goals away from home, which is a concern to me.

"We've got to do better than that, hopefully starting on Sunday."

Swan hasn't figured for Burnley since February, when he sustained a knee injury which required surgery and a lengthy period of rehabilitation.

But he has had a taste of the action in the reserves during his comeback and along with the fit-again Paul Smith is named in the Burnley squad.

"They've been in full training so I'll take a squad of about 20 and decide from there," said Ternent, who could find Swan's physical presence and ability to get on the end of crosses useful if required in the latter stages of the game.

The Burnley boss will also have to find a replacement for the suspended Paul Cook with Lenny Johnrose and Graham Branch vying for a starting slot.

Johnrose is likely to get the nod, unless John Mullin moves inside and Branch is rewarded for an impressive substitute's performance against Cardiff last Saturday with a place on the left wing.

If Swan is involved, he will take the number of former Bury players in the Burnley squad up to five, plus Branch who played four games on loan at Gigg Lane in the 1992/93 season.

Ternent, of course, had a highly successful four-year stint in charge of the Shakers when he took them from the bottom of the Nationwide League into Division One before taking charge at Burnley a year-and-a-half ago.

And he will have a far stronger side out than the one beaten over two legs by Bury in the Worthington Cup last season, even though the Clarets did manage a 1-1 draw at Gigg Lane in the first meeting.

"I think we are a bit better but it will be a very difficult match. They had a good result at Scunthorpe last week so they are on the up.

"We are doing all right so it has got the makings of a cracking match. I just hope we come out at the end of it with three points."

"I'm looking forward to going back there. I have a lot of happy memories from Bury. There aren't many of my players left there now but the people I worked for are all the same," added Ternent, whose legacy at Bury has now been whittled down to Nicky Daws, Chris Swailes and Andy Woodward among the senior players left following the reign of Neil Warnock.

Bury, who enjoyed their first win since early October when beating Scunthorpe a week ago, have midfield ball-winner Darren Bullock available after suspension and Chris Billy is set to return at right-back in place of youngster Matthew Barrass.

Eleven-goal leading scorer Ian Lawson, reported to be interesting Oldham, has an outside chance of returning from injury and Lutel James will also be back to challenge Adrian Littlejohn for a striking role alongside ex-Burnley front man Paul Barnes.

Burnley from: Crichton, West, Armstrong, Mellon, Davis, Thomas, Little, Johnrose, Cooke, Payton, Mullin, Branch, Jepson, Weller, Brass, Swan, Robertson, Cowan, Smith.

Bury from: Kenny, Billy, Williams, Bullock, Redmond, Swailes, Woodward, Daws, Barnes, Littlejohn, Reid, Lawson, James, Preece, Barrass, Forrest, Bhutia, Avdiu, Halford, Armstrong, Cartwright (gk).

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