BRIAN Reid and Andy Cooke are fighting to be fit to lend their weight to part of Burnley's critical Easter programme.

Saturday's trip to in-form Notts County is likely to come too soon for the pair, who are on their way back from injury and illness respectively.

But manager Stan Ternent said today there is a "possibility" that they could be involved in Monday afternoon's home clash with Colchester United.

"They are getting close," confirmed the Burnley boss.

"Both of them have done very well in training and getting towards it but they have missed a lot of games and I will see what Paul Lake says."

Reid has been sidelined with a knee injury after rocking a joint during the Clarets 6-0 home defeat by Manchester City three weeks ago.

A scan showed up no serious damage and after treatment the central defender is back in training.

And Matty Heywood may also be able to provide back-up following his return to action in the reserves in mid-week as Ternent inches closer to a full defensive hand to play with.

Cooke has missed one game more than Reid, having had his appendix out, and his availability would also be a tonic for Ternent, whose striking resources have been badly hit by injury.

And with two games so close together over the holiday weekend, Ternent will want as full a squad as possible to choose from.

He added: "It's getting a bit more towards a decent squad but we will be keeping our fingers crossed.

"With only 48 hours between the two games it's difficult for the players."

The Easter programme is traditonally seen as a vital part of the run-in and with both Burnley's games against teams battling alongside them to beat the drop it's important that the Clarets build on last Sunday's last-gasp win over Macclesfield. But nothing will be decided over the next few days and Ternent insisted: "Every game is important to us. It's important to win at this stage and these games are no different. We need to get up to that 50-point mark."

With the return of Reid and Cooke being kept on ice, Burnley are likely to field a similar line-up to the one that beat Macclesfield as they bid to extend their impressive away record against a County side that has won five of its last seven games.

But there may be one change with Lenny Johnrose looking a good bet to add some steel to the Clarets starting line-up for what will be a testing trip.

County could be led out at Meadow Lane by former Clarets loan striker Gerry Creaney.

Creaney, who recently joined the Magpies on a week-to-week basis after a spell with St Mirren, captained the County side which drew 1-1 at Bristol Rovers last Saturday when he scored the visitors' goal.

Manager Sam Allardyce is currently picking his skippers match-by-match following the departure of Ian Hendon and Creaney, who is currently playing in midfield, may get the nod again this weekend.

Creaney enjoyed a prolific run at Turf Moor last season, scoring eight goals in 10 games during a loan spell from Manchester City during which time Burnley lost only twice.

The former Celic and Portsmouth striker was subsequently linked with a more permanent move but Chris Waddle signed Andy Payton to provide the goals and he obliged with nine in 19 League games to help keep the Clarets up.

And having got back on the goal trail against Macclesfield last Sunday to move onto the 18-mark for the season, Payton will be bidding to keep one step ahead of Creaney again on Saturday.

Looking further to the future, Ternent is keeping tabs on 20-year-old trialist Martin Doherty. The left-sided former Bolton midfielder is continuing to train with the Clarets after being given a run-out in the reserves on Tuesday night.

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