Clarets boss Stan Ternent is facing a worrying striker shortage after Andy Cooke's hamstring injury took the gloss off a superb win at Oldham Athletic.

Burnley now face a spell of four games in 12 days with Cooke likely to miss them all.

And potential replacement Alan Lee will also be absent for the games at Bristol Rovers next Monday and at home to Bournemouth on Friday week because of international commitments with the Republic of Ireland under-21s.

"Andy's got a hamstring injury and won't be available for a week or two," Ternent confirmed today.

"They're the sort of things we can do without, but we've got them so we'll have to get on with it."

Cooke was back in the starting line-up against Oldham after a knee problem and his return to the injured list is a blow for Burnley, who chalked up their second successive win thanks to Andy Payton's first-half goal.

"If we had got two it would have killed it off and we would have maybe gone on to get more.

"But we would have settled for a 1-0 before we came and it keeps the run going so we're all happy," said Payton.

"The Manchester City game was a big disappointment to everyone but it's the League that counts really and with seven points from three games, you can't knock it," added the striker, who has quickly got into his stride in his quest for another 20-goal campaign. "You know what my targets are for the season and it's another step in that direction for my targets and for the team.

"We are delighted to win and see us at the other end of the table for a change. Hopefully we can stay there this season. The fans were brilliant again and I'm pleased for them as well."

Ternent was equally happy with the outcome after his side played their best football of the season to date to go fourth in Division Two.

"I'm happy with the start we've made but one swallow doesn't make a summer. There are 43 games to go yet.

"But it's not an easy place to come and we did create a lot chances.

"We played some very good stuff and I think we were deserved winners," said Ternent.

"We got a little bit stretched in the second half from time to time. I would like us to improve a little on that but really we dominated the game.

"But for all our superiority on chances one goal is never comfortable so we needed another to kill them off.

"There's plenty of room for improvement, the lads are well aware of that, but on Saturday they did Burnley Football Club proud. "All-in-all it was a good performance from the players and I'm pleased for them. But we will get better."

Burnley now turn their attention back to the Worthington Cup and tomorrow night's second leg against Manchester City at Turf Moor.

The Clarets trail 5-0 but Payton insisted that Burnley won't accept defeat lightly.

"We've got to be positive and try and salvage a bit of pride," he said.

"We've got to approach it like we are're going to try and win. They're probably going to come and maybe be a bit relaxed and you never know, anything can happen in football.

"We've got to go into it with that attitude rather than going in thinking it's 5-0 and it's all over. If we went in at half-time 2-0 up anything can happen."

Preston's Sean Gregan is expected to miss the derby clash with Burnley at Deepdale on September 11 after being sent off in North End's 1-1 draw at Wycombe on Saturday.

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