RONNIE Jepson may be handed an SOS - Save Our Season - call from Stan Ternent after striker Andy Cooke became the eighth Burnley player to undergo an operation this season.

Cooke was rushed into hospital last night to have his appendix removed after reporting stomach pains in the afternoon.

And Cooke's absence leaves the Clarets short up front following Peter Swan's knee injury which required surgery last week.

Kevin Henderson is also under treatment and youngsters Phil Eastwood and Colin Carr-Lawton are out on loan.

And while the all-action Jepson would be a ready-made replacement for Cooke, the 35-year-old striker has played only 45 minutes since rupturing an Achilles tendon last September.

However, that second-half performance against Gillingham on Saturday may be enough for Ternent to pitch Jepson straight into his starting line-up at Wigan this weekend.

"I'll have a look at it. But Ronnie did it on Saturday," said Ternent, whose other option would appear to be to partner Andy Payton with either Graham Branch or a possible loan signing.

Jepson admitted that he had been tentative on his shock return to action but he still showed a good touch and some much-needed passion to reward the work he has put in on the comeback trail.

"They were brilliant down at Lilleshall with me and Paul Lake has worked me hard here.

"I'm a month up in advance of what I should be so for my age it's really good. I'm pleased to get back and it's through hard work," said Jepson, who could be the man to deliver the goals Burnley need to get back on track after five games without a win. Cooke joins a list of Chris Brass (knee), Steve Morgan (knee), Glen Little (hernia), Paul Smith (knees), Jepson (Achilles), Paul Weller (stomach) and Peter Swan (knee) who have undergone surgery this season.

Smith is not expected to play again this season and Mark Robertson may be added to the unlucky list if the midfield man can't make it through to the summer before having an operation on a 'sportsman's hernia'.

However, Ternent will be hoping that treatment will allow Robertson to figure in Burnley's fight to get away from the relegation zone, particularly with Lenny Johnrose about to start a three-match ban. "He's having a rehabilitation course and if that gets him through and he can battle on he will have the operation in the summer but if not he will have to gave it done," said Ternent, who rates Smith as an outside candidate for a return to action before the end of the campaign after surgery to flush out his problems in both his knees.

The Burnley boss added: "I'm reckoning he will be out for the season. He's up to about four days training and then gets a reaction and needs to rest a day.

"He's come on from one day (of training) but the main thing is to get him fit long-term. That's got to be the best way in my view."

Ternent reported a positive day yesterday as the Clarets look to get Saturday's 5-0 defeat out of their systems and build towards another tough game at Wigan. And the Burnley boss has the unequivocal backing of chairman Barry Kilby and his board.

Anxious to point out that he was not issuing the infamous vote of confidence, Kilby insisted: "We are absolutely 100 per cent behind him. We had a chat and we know where we want to go."

"We were disappointed on Saturday as everyone was, and nobody more than Stan.

"It's just a matter of dusting ourselves down and getting on with it. Of course it would be a massive blow if we went down but at the moment we are not contemplating that."

Gillingham's Robert Taylor-inspired win at Turf Moor helped manager Tony Pulis win the Second Division manager-of-the-month award after the Gills collected four wins and a draw in February.

Burnley are keeping it in the family by appointing Cathy Pickup as the club's new secretary.

She follows in the footsteps of her father Albert Maddox, who completed 50 years' service as assistant and company secretary at Turf Moor in October 1997.

Pickup has worked for the Clarets for 11 years, starting in the commercial and administration departments before being appointed assistant secretary just over a year ago. She has been carrying out the secretary's duties since John Howarth's departure in the autumn of last year.

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