ANDY Payton revealed this week the countdown to his omission from the Burnley starting line-up against Reading last Saturday.

Manager Stan Ternent admitted after the 1-1 draw that his caution over Payton's sciatic problem had been a mistake.

But the seeds of doubt were sown five days before the game which saw the Clarets top-scorer start on the bench.

"We had a practice game on the Tuesday and I was feeling it so I had to tell the gaffer," Payton revealed.

"He took me off and put Branchy up front and said see how it is.

"On Thursday I was still feeling it so he said he didn't want to put me in a position like Glen Little (who played when not 100 per cent fit) so might put me on the bench.

"So I said 'fair enough no problem'."

Payton has proved his recovery, since, however and was due to resume his strike partnership with Andy Cooke at Wycombe today.

BURNLEY will face former striker Gerry Creaney when they visit Notts County on Easter Saturday. Creaney, who scored eight goals during a 10-match loan spell at Turf Moor last season, has joined County on a 12-month contract.

NEW England boss Kevin Keegan may arrive at Turf Moor in May with jet-lag.

He brings his Fulham side to Burnley for the penultimate game of the season just four days after leading England in a friendly in Hungary.

THE Turf Moor pitch is likely to be subject to further improvements in the close season.

The re-laying of the Clarets playing surface has proved a major success.

But there is still a problem area in front of the Bob Lord Stand where water doesn't drain away as quickly as the rest of the pitch.

The club is in talks with the pitch contractors about solving the problem.

And it could be that the under-soil heating system is also completed during the summer months.

THE recent weather problems of a cold snap followed by a resumption of heavy rain have taken their toll on the Clarets squad.

Burnley have had to train on the all-weather surface or very heavy pitches at Gawthorpe.

That's hardly made for ideal preparation for matches, while training on astro-turf hasn't been kind to Peter Swan's calf strain.

THE CLARETS could put a couple of pieces of silveware in the trophy cabinet this season thanks to the performances of the 'A' team.

Burnley are currently second in the Lancashire League, which no longer includes teams from the Premiership clubs.

They are four points behind leaders Tranmere, who they entertain next Saturday morning in a possible title decider.

Burnley also had a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals of the League's Supplementary Cup, although they had to beat Wrexham in their final game today to have any chance of pipping either Tranmere or Marine for one of the top two places in their group.

BURNLEY reserves face a tough test when they visit Pontins League First Division leaders Coventry City on Tuesday night.

The Clarets mid-week 2-0 win over Barnsley was enough to lift them out of the relegation zone as Bolton also won, although Burnley are now level on points with third-bottom Tranmere.

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