GLEN Little will decide himself whether he is fit enough to take the attack to Blackpool at Bloomfield Road tonight.

The Clarets winger missed Saturday's 1-1 draw at Oldham after going down with a bout of the flu.

He has since returned to training but manager Stan Ternent has left it to the player to determine whether he has recovered sufficiently to bolster Burnley's relegation fight.

Ternent confirmed: "Glen trained yesterday so we'll see how he is. It depends on how he is but I'll certainly add him to the squad. But the final decision will rest with him really if he's up to it."

Although he has not been as consistently brilliant since a double hernia operation and subsequent groin problem, Little always adds something extra to the Clarets attack and his return would enhance Burnley's prospects of a much-needed win.

And the wide man will be extra keen to make the derby line-up as he is out of Saturday's visit of Bournemouth after totting up eight bookings for the season.

As well as Little, Ternent hopes to have midfield play-maker Paul Cook available and was working on extending his stay from Stockport County. The deal was apparently not as cut-and-dried as first appeared butTernent confirmed: "I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can sort something out but it's not sorted out by any stretch of the imagination yet."

Burnley are unbeaten in five games but are still just three points above the relegation frame and need to take something from 13th-placed Blackpool, who look to be safe following a 2-0 win over Reading on Saturday.

Ternent added: "We have been doing alright and we need to keep it going and get some more points on the board.

"We could just do with winning one away from home, that would be nice.

"They have shown a lot of resilience when they have gone behind and they have come back on quite a few occasions. We could do with going in front and staying there.

"Our need is greater than theirs I think at the moment, points wise, so we will be looking to put on a good show and get something out of the game."

Tonight's game (kick-off 7.30) means a return to Bloomfield Road for former Blackpool man Micky Mellon.

But the Clarets midfielder, who still lives in the resort, is focussed only on earning three points for his current employers. He said: "It makes no difference to me that it's Blackpool, although I suppose there is a bit of added spice for myself wanting to go back there and win. But that's about it.

"It's another game and we just want to go there and get a result.

"I don't even give it a second glance. I live there but that's about it. I play for Burnley now and I want 110 per cent to get a victory there."

Mellon was disappointed that Burnley didn't take maximum points from Oldham but insists the Clarets are still in good enough shape to beat the drop.

He added: "It's good to get a little run together. That's five unbeaten and if we can get a result at Blackpool then we are at home on Saturday and it's in our hands.

"We have got the capabilities to do it (stay up) and we're sure that we will."

Blackpool are expected to show one change from the side that beat Reading with Chris Malkin expected to replace injured top-scorer Martin Aldridge. The Tangerines will include two of their deadline-day signings in former Carlisle goalkeeper Tony Caig and ex-Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester defender Julian Watts. A third, Andy Couzens, may be added to the squad after a hamstring strain.

Burnley from: Crichton, Pickering, Cowan, Mellon, Davis, Brass, Little, Cooke, Armstrong, Cook, Payton, Johnrose, Branch, Reid, Jepson.

Blackpool from: Caig, Bryan, Watts, Carlisle, Rogan, Hughes, Clarkson, Bent, Malkin, Hills, Ormerod, Nowland, Bardsley, Couzens, Barnes.

Northampton at home to York is the biggest Second Division relegation showdown tonight, with other strugglers Lincoln hosting Reading, Macclesfield entertaining Chesterfield and Oldham playing at home to Bristol Rovers.

Meanwhile, the Clarets are reported to be checking out young Everton midfielder Michael O'Brien during a trial spell at Turf Moor.

The 19-year-old, who is regarded as a tigerish midfielder and useful passer, captained Everton's FA Youth Cup-winning side last season but has not made a first-team appearance at Goodison Park.

He is due to be released at the end of the season and the Clarets may therefore get first bite at the cherry if Ternent wants to pursue his interest.

Everton said this morning that there had been no request from Burnley to play him in their reserve game at home to Wolves tomorrow night. But such a procedure is apparently a two-minute job so the situation could quickly change.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.