RONNIE Jepson has arrived at Turf Moor to give the Clarets a lift on and off the pitch.

And his signing is likely to herald a number of new arrivals before the season starts as manager Stan Ternent looks to strengthen his squad.

A goalkeeper and midfielder are expected to top the list with the Burnley boss, also sure to have an eye on his defence, saying: "I want to give the lads a chance but one (Gerry Harrison) has gone to Sunderland, Paul Weller hasn't signed yet, Jamie Hoyland and Chris Woods have gone and so it goes on so I have got a squad of something like 15 for tonight's game and two of those are goalkeepers.

"You see what happens when Mark Robertson and Andy Payton get an injury. All of a sudden we are down to the bare bones."

As expected Ternent made Jepson his first signing when agreeing a 12-month deal with the experienced striker.

And as well as providing goalscoring back-up for Andy Cooke and Andy Payton, Ternent is also looking to Jepson to provide some dressing room spark.

"He is experienced with no little ability and is a man to have about the place," said Ternent.

"He gives us cover for the attacking positions, he can play in midfield and can even play at the back so I think he is a good signing for us. "It's a short term thing but we need to get some sort of character. He will be great to have around the place which is important."

"He has not cost us anything, is a very experienced player and is a no-risk signing for me. He is a good player and a good sort of lad who will be a big asset for Burnley."

A larger than life figure, Jepson will help further galvanise team spirit.

But he is not just a joker in the pack as his goalscoring record proves.

He scored nine goals in 31 games to help Ternent win the Second Division title with Bury two seasons ago, having notched 31 goals in 84 games for Huddersfield in the previous two seasons.

The 35-year-old has been the scourge of Burnley down the years, scoring against the Clarets for Preston, Exeter, Bury and Oldham.

And although last season was heavily disrupted by injury and suspension, Jepson finished the campaign for Oldham with four goals in three games, including a thumping header against Burnley, to guarantee the Latics' safety.

He will have to bide his time for a starting slot up front, however, with Cooke and Payton the established first choice pairing. Payton misses tonight's warm-up game at Morecambe (kick-off 7.30) with a hamstring strain but Ternent also knows Payton's game inside out and will not worry about losing him for pre-season.

"I am confident he will be alright for the first game and he might even be touch and go for Saturday but if there's any doubt he won't play because I want Andy Cooke and Andy Payton up front for the first game," stressed Ternent.

Jepson, who settled the remainder of his contract at Oldham to look for a new club, linked up with the Clarets a fortnight ago and indicated on the training trip to the south-west last week that he would be keen to come to Turf Moor despite interest from elsewhere.

He is likely to be given a 45-minute run-out tonight with Ternent - looking for a big defensive improvement - taking the opportunity to have another look at Kevin Henderson and Colin Carr-Lawton.

Midfielder Robertson is again ruled out by his hamstring pull but goalkeeper Tony Parks has recovered from a groin injury to play against the Vauxhall Conference outfit.

Burnley from: Parks, Brass, Morgan, Ford, Moore, Winstanley, Blatherwick, Howey, Little, Williams, Cooke, Jepson, Smith, Henderson, Carr-Lawton, Mawson.

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