LEADING goal-grabber Andy Payton will be fit to lead the Clarets attack in their crucial derby clash at Blackpool tomorrow night.

Payton claimed his 21st goal of the season to earn Burnley a 1-1 draw at Oldham on Saturday before being withdrawn from the action 11 minutes from time.

Manager Stan Ternent revealed afterwards that Payton had felt a tightening in one of his calves.

But he confirmed that it wasn't a major problem and Burnley's chief goalscoring weapon will play at Bloomfield Road.

Whether he is joined in the Clarets line-up by Glen Little remains to be seen.

The influential winger missed the game at Boundary Park, where Payton's equaliser kept Burnley four points clear of Oldham, but just three above the relegation zone as five of the sides below the Clarets at the start of play won.

"Glen has got flu and wasn't available so we'll see how he is for Tuesday," said Ternent, who recalled Andy Cooke for his first game since an appendix operation at the start of last month.

"Andy was absolutely fantastic. He worked his socks off, held the ball up well but I expect that from Cookie, he's that sort of player," added the Burnley boss.

Ternent was also today trying to finalise an extension to Paul Cook's loan spell from Stockport County.

And with the First Division club apparently willing to let him stay on at Turf Moor, Cook is likely to continue in the Clarets midfield at Blackpool. Striker Cooke also hopes to stay involved as Burnley go searching for more much-needed points to keep themselves out of the relegation frame.

And he confessed he would love to get on the scoresheet.

"I'll be praying for a goal. It would be really nice. I need one now I think after the up-and-down season I've had," said Cooke.

"I just hope I'm back in and I will be looking forward to it if I am.

"I'll just have to see what the gaffer says.

"We will be going into that confident with the run we've got going and hopefully again we can put in a good performance and maybe get the three points.

"You take nothing for granted and keep looking for those points."

Cooke's campaign got back on an upward curve with Saturday's return which he admitted came as something of a shock.

"I was delighted to be back in and start a game," he added.

"It came as a bit of a surprise on Friday. Glen had been ill so the gaffer more-or-less said I would be in if he's not fit.

"I wasn't sure if Glen would be okay so there's still some doubt in your mind whether you'll be starting but I was glad to be in. "It took a bit of getting used to and settling in but the longer the game went on the more I got involved and I just ran out of steam at the end. I couldn't really carry on.

"I wasn't even expecting to get on the bench to be honest after they had a good win last week.

"I thought it might be the same side and same subs but things change and I was glad just to take my chance really.

"The way the reserve games and injuries have gone I have hardly played any football at all apart from in training but the gaffer has shown some faith in me to play me so I didn't really want to let him down."

Cooke's return allowed him to rekindle his partnership with Payton, who looked to have paved the way for a Burnley win before Oldham finished strongly to confirm a fair share of the spoils.

"You have got to look at it as a good point because they are fighting for their lives as well and it was a local derby," said Cooke.

"These game are always going to be difficult so away from home you've got to be happy with another point which keeps th e unbeaten run going.

"All the lads are reasonably pleased even though we were under a bit of pressure at the end."

Burnley's 'A' team drew 1-1 with Macclesfield in the Lancashire League.

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