Goal-starved Cooke backed by Ternent

The goals have dried up for Cooke who extended his blank run to nine games in Saturday's 0-0 draw with high-flying Walsall.

But last season's leading scorer was desperately unlucky not to end the drought as Burnley piled on the pressure in search of a late winner.

And Ternent is convinced that the tide is about to turn for the powerful front man.

"The thing with Cookie is that he has just got to keep at it. Goalscorers thrive on goals and a goal would do him more good than anything.

"He will finish with 20 goals at the end of the season. That will happen for him," insisted the Burnley manager.

Ternent has striking options available to him with Kevin Henderson starting to fire and Peter Swan going close to breaking the deadlock after coming on against Walsall.

But Ternent insisted that he hadn't considered leaving Cooke out as he backs his man to rediscover the scoring touch.

"He's a proven goalscorer and if he keeps working hard there will be no problem. He was getting on the end of chances on Saturday and that's important."

Despire being held to a third draw of the holiday period, Burnley turned in an impressive performance against the second-placed Saddlers - helped by new boys Steve Davis and Graham Branch.

"Steve Davis is a top-quality player, Graham Branch is a very, very good player and has the ability and the potential to go on.

"I am delighted for both of them. They both had smashing debuts. Although Branchy hadn't played for the best part of a month he did some nice things, so I am very pleased with the pair of them," said Ternent.

And the Clarets' boss won't rest on his laurels following the twin capture of Davis and Branch. He added: "I am looking to strengthen all the time. If we can bring another player or two in that will give us competition for places and with a few injuries back it will be more like the squad I am looking for.

"I am getting there. I said when I came at first it would take a while and it has but I am hopeful that we are on the up-and-up now.

"I was criticised for saying it wasn't my team because I had only four of my own players in. Saturday was a little different.

"There was Andy Cooke, Andy Payton, Mark Robertson and Mark Ford and the rest of them were my lot and I think they are gelling together quite well and that's what I meant when I said that.

"It may take a little longer but we are getting there. And I am hopeful that I can give them (the fans) what they have come to expect at Burnley and what they are hoping and wishing for. In conjunction with the chairman Mr Kilby we intend to have a right good go at it."

With Ternent gradually building up his resources there may be departures from Turf Moor with players on the fringe likely to be seeking regular first-team football. Ternent doesn't want to lose any of his key personnel as he tries to add strength in depth to his squad but admitted: "I understand they have careers to pursue and if they don't want to stay at Burnley and play for Burnley then I understand that. "But the governing factors are that if somebody wanted to leave who is a squad player, a first-team player, then two things apply - the transfer fee has to be right and secondly in some cases I may need a replacement so I make that clear to them and there's no problem with it.

"And like I say it's never personal."

After Saturday's game Ternent asked referee Trevor Jones to reconsider his decision to show a yellow card to Clarets' striker Andy Payton for 'diving' in the penalty area.

Payton went to ground after clipping the heels of Walsall defender Richard Green in what looked like an accidental collison between the two players but Jones interpreted it as an attempt by Payton to win a spot-kick.

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