CHRIS Waddle is still hoping to push through the swap deal involving Huddersfield Town striker Andy Payton and Burnley's Paul Barnes early next week.

But a hitch at the Huddersfield end threatens the straight exchange of strikers which the Burnley player-manager had originally hoped to complete in time for this afternoon's crucial game against Watford.

It is still not cut and dried even though, according to the two managers, both players are ready to make the move.

The stumbling block is a problem involving Payton's contract with the First Division club and that will have to be cleared up if the deal is to be sealed.

Huddersfield manager Peter Jackson confirmed: "There is still a bit of talking to do but I am hopeful we will be able to resolve any problems after the weekend.

"Both players are happy to move but there are still some loose ends to tie up on Andy's contract at this end."

Waddle concurred with that reading of the situation - as he has already spoken to Payton who is keen to join his hometown club.

The Burnley boss added: "We put it to Paul Barnes that, obviously, it's not just down to him but we haven't been scoring goals and we do need a change of strikers.

"I had originally asked about taking Andy Payton on loan and the idea of a swap developed from there.

"It's a fair deal and a change of face up front could be just the lift the whole team needs."

There is no cash involved in the deal which will be rated at around £375,000, the price Burnley paid for Barnes when they signed him from Birmingham. Huddersfield paid around £350,000 when they signed Payton from Barnsley.

With the delay in clinching a permanent move, Burnley were hoping they might be able to take Payton on loan, so that he could make his debut against Watford.

But that fell through as secretary John Howarth explained: "We did discuss a loan but they wouldn't consider that. Huddersfield wanted everything sorted out properly."

The delay in the transfer left Waddle with an obvious major headache for this afternoon's game against Second Division leaders Watford.

With Barnes now preparing himself for a possible move, he was virtually out of contention.

Burnley couldn't afford to risk injury and, besides, his mind will now be on other things. That left just one senior striker in Andy Cooke but Waddle worked yesterday on a plan to replace Barnes. It was not thought to involve any of the reserve team strikers such as Kevin Henderson and Colin Carr-Lawton.

"Obviously it's best to leave him (Barnes) out. His mind will be elsewhere and, as we would like to complete the deal on Monday if possible, we don't want an injury to cause problems," said Waddle.

"But we'll juggle things around and still expect to play two up front."

Payton was also omitted from Huddersfield's 14-man squad at home to Oxford United.

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