WAYWARD genius Paul Gascoigne will play at Turf Moor tonight when he lines up for Middlesbrough reserves in a Pontin's League clash.

Gascoigne hasn't played in the Premiership since February after he failed to return from suspension in Middlesbrough's win at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

But with a first-team comeback pencilled in for Boro's clash at Blackburn on Easter Saturday, the midfield maestro will be given a run-out against the Clarets second string which will guarantee a few extra people through the gates.

Middlesbrough entertain Juninho's Atletico Madrid in a friendly on Sunday but manager Bryan Robson obviously sees tonight's game at Burnley as a meaningful build-up for Gascoigne's return to the fray. And striker Alun Armstrong, who marked his comeback from injury with a quick-fire hat-trick in the reserves last week, is also named alongside former Clarets keeper Marlon Beresford and Republic of Ireland international Alan Moore in a strong Boro line-up.

Burnley will also have a number of senior players on duty, including Mark Ford, Steve Morgan and Ronnie Jepson, but Boro's visit will provide a major test for the Clarets younger players.

And Lenny Johnrose won't play as he is being held back by manager Stan Ternent for a return to action in Burnley's relegation showdown with Macclesfield Town on Sunday. Johnrose hasn't played since the Clarets 5-0 home defeat by Gillingham at the end of February after a dismissal at Wycombe cost him a three-match ban.

But Ternent won't risk the former Bury midfielder against Boro (kick-off 7.15pm).

"Lenny won't play," confirmed Ternent. "I don't want him getting injured and he's a fit lad." Johnrose, a £225,000 capture from Gigg Lane, looks likely to return to the Clarets line-up against in-form Macclesfield.

The luxury of naming an unchanged side paid dividends in Burnley's 1-1 draw at Wrexham on Saturday but there is still room for improvement and competition for places will be welcome after a run of injury and suspensions at Turf Moor.

"It would be a good thing and it will make a change," Ternent added.

And the Clarets certainly need to be firing on all cylinders for a game they desperately need to win against a Macclesfield side two places and two points below them in the table.

"It's a must-win game," confirmed Burnley defender Chris Brass.

"We've got to be going into it expecting to get three points. We haven't won at home since November and we need to end that jinx on Sunday which will hopefully help us beat the teams coming here in the next few games.

"And to be fair to the fans who have stuck with us, we need to give them something to shout about." Ternent confirmed that Jepson will feature in part of tonight's game as he continues his return from a serious Achilles tendon injury which has kept him out of action for seven months, bar a 45-minute run-out against Gillingham. But as Jepson is some way short of being fully fit, the Burnley boss may still make a move for a goalscorer before Thursday's transfer deadline.

However, reports linking him with a move for Nottingham Forest's Paul McGregor, who is joining Preston, and Scunthorpe's Jamie Forrester appear to be wide of the mark.

It's a concerted effort at Turf Moor to win the relegation battle with chairman Barry Kilby saying that everything is being channelled towards securing Second Division safety.

"We all want to concentrate on getting out out of trouble.

"It's a 10-game season and everything is going into those 10 games. That's what we've got to focus on," said Kilby.

Meanwhile, Mark Winstanley has signed for Preston following his recent release from Turf Moor.

The experienced defender played for North End's reserves last week and manager David Moyes has taken him on until the end of the season as cover for his promotion-chasing side.

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