THE Clarets pair of Colin Carr-Lawton and Carl Smith are still kicking their heels as red tape denies them the chance of a game following their return to Turf Moor from a spell in Greek football.

And to add insult to injury, Burnley were today expected to face a player who has been given the all-clear to resume his career in England after playing alongside the Burnley duo in Greece.

The English contingent of players on loan with Ethinikos have all come back home following problems over payments from the Greek First Division club.

International clearance wasn't so quick to follow but Sunderland striker Paul Beavers received the backing of FIFA over his contractual dispute and was set to make his loan debut for Oldham Athletic against the Clarets at Boundary Park this afternoon.

Burnley are yet to hear similar good news but manager Stan Ternent hopes that the same outcome can quickly be achieved.

"It's with the PFA and they will probably have to get FIFA involved," said Ternent.

Carr-Lawton and Smith are unlikely to be in first-team contention as things stand.

But with contracts up in the summer they will be keen to play some Pontins League football and not just see the season drift away.

And Ternent is equally frustrated with the situation after sending the pair, whose activity is currently restricted to the training ground at Gawthorpe, abroad in good faith to gain some useful experience and enhance their careers.

While Carr-Lawton and Smith can't get back into action, Ternent has seen a number of his other players come back into the frame. Andy Cooke and Brian Reid were in the squad on duty at Oldham. And with Ronnie Jepson recently back among the clutch of new signings at his disposal, Ternent had a strong hand to play in his quest for the three more wins he felt were needed to keep Burnley up.

"I am getting a few players back now. The squad is strong enough and the lads believe in themselves so there's no reason why we shouldn't get them," said the Burnley boss.

The Clarets have used an incredible 42 players in the League this season. But short-term measures look to be at an end with the nucleus of a squad for the future in place with a smaller number of reinforcements to be added in the summer.

Ternent added: "Over the course of the season we have had a lot of injuries and certainly a lot of suspensions.

"So I have had to go out and bring a few players in here and there but now we've got the basis of a settled kind of a team and that can only stand us in good stead I hope.

"I think if you get a settled side and you work together on the training ground then it starts coming together and they realise what I'm after."

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