BURNLEY wide man Paul Smith came through his second comeback game last night to put himself in contention for a return to first-team duty.

Smith played a full 90 minutes for the Clarets' reserves as they beat Huddersfield 2-1 at Turf Moor.

And while manager Stan Ternent is unlikely to shuffle his pack for Saturday's home game against Cardiff City, Smith will be back in the squad and available over Christmas.

"He's certain to be involved. He's an integral part of the first-team squad," confirmed manager Stan Ternent today.

Smith hasn't played since Burnley's FA Cup first-round tie at Barnet at the end of October after losing a bit of bone from just below the knee.

However, he will now add to Ternent's options along with Peter Swan, who wasn't risked in the reserves last night because of a slight calf strain but who is also closing in on a return to senior action.

"His calf was a little bit tender and we have to be led by the physio," added Ternent.

Matty Heywood made an encouraging return against Huddersfield's second-string after a lengthy spell out with an Achilles tendon injury and Ternent reports no fresh injury worries ahead of the visit of Cardiff, with only Alan Lee now on the long-term casualty list.

The frozen ground didn't help Burnley's preparations today, but Ternent insists everyone will be focussed on the job in hand by Saturday following their cup heroics of a week ago.

"Every spell is important for us because we are up there. And we are now cooking with a bit of gas," he said.

Cardiff, languishing in 19th-place in the table, will be without central defender Tony Vaughan, who has returned to Manchester City following his loan spell. City want £450,000 for the defender but the Welsmen are unwilling to meet the asking price, despite the fact that they are set to receive in an injection of £2.5 million from a consortium led by Clive Sullivan, brother of Birmingham owner and publisher David, in January.

Recent £110,000 signing, German Jorn Schwinkendors, will therefore make his first League start after playing in a mid-week Welsh Cup win over Jimmy Mullen's Merthyr Tydfil.

Burnley have appointed a new publicity and media manager at Turf Moor to handle the club's marketing.

Twenty-five-year-old Danny Reuben, who has arrived from Leeds Rugby League Club where he previously worked under Clarets general manager Andrew Watson, has replaced Richard Collier, who resigned last month.

The Clarets hold their AGM in the banqueting suite of the North Stand tonight, start 7pm.

Tommy Cummings will be signing copies of Burnley's Greatest Goal and the Last of the Golden Boys at WH Smiths in Burnley between 7-8pm tonight.

Cummings scored the legendary goal against Newcastle United in 1952 which the first half of the book, written by Sweden-based Clarets fan Peter Fyles, is based upon.

The second half is about Jimmy Adamson's Clarets team of the seventies.

The book is available from local bookshops or direct from Sean Spencer on 01482 210267.

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