CHRIS Waddle was today battling against the clock to try to sign Huddersfield Town striker Andy Payton in time for tomorrow's match against Second Division leaders Watford at Turf Moor.

The Burnley player-manager has set up a swap deal, with the intention of Huddersfield taking Paul Barnes in exchange.

And we can reveal that it follows the breakdown in a Burnley bid to swap Barnes for Oldham's ex-Everton forward Stuart Barlow.

The two clubs had settled on a deal but several hitches developed involving the players and Waddle turned instead to Payton.

In order to try to push through the acquisition of the Burnley-born striker, Waddle was prepared to settle for taking him on loan initially.

He was trying to sort things out by noon today to make him eligible for the Watford match.

For a permanent deal, both players would have to accept the move - though Payton has already told Waddle he would be delighted to sign for his hometown club - and there are the medicals.

Huddersfield are not in any hurry, as they have two first-choice strikers at the moment in Wayne Allison and Marcus Stewart.

And, on Tuesday, they visit Bournemouth in the FA Cup. Barnes could not be considered as he is cup tied from playing with Burnley.

"It takes time to sort these things out and we are trying to agree the basics," said Waddle today.

"Andy Payton has a great goalscoring record, he's a local lad who wants to come here and it could give everybody a lift.

"We have been competitive all over the pitch but it's about putting the ball inm the net. "I watched him play for Huddersfield reserves and he's got a good all-round game.

"He could give us something different. He looked sharp and if he can score the goals I think he will then it could be just what we have been looking for."

The 30-year-old Payton, who still lives locally, has scored goals for all his clubs, Hull, Middlesbrough, Celtic, Barnsley and Huddersfield.

Barnes, also 30, was Burnley's record signing when he joined them from Birmingham for £375,000.

If the swap goes through, it would be valued at a similar figure.

Meanwhile, defender Lee Howey is struggling to make tomorrow's game against Watford with a pelvic problem.

And midfielder Michael Williams was a late addition to the "very doubtful" list after twisting an ankle in training yesterday.

Waddle will give both players until the last minute before deciding on their fitness. Everyone else is expected to be okay, including Paul Weller, who came through training with the squad yesterday.

Developments on the Barnes-Payton move could obviously affect the squad which was expected to be: Beresford, Brass, Howey, Moore, Harrison, Vinnicombe, Matthew, Ford, Williams, Cooke, Barnes, Waddle, Smith, Little, Blatherwick, Weller.

Watford, without Ronny Rosenthal, will have to give a test to teenage striker Gifton Noel-Williams who has a groin injury.

They are the title favourites and beat Burnley 1-0 at Vicarage Road on the opening day of the season.

Their squad is set to be: Chamberlain, Page, Millen, Mooney, Gibbs, Hyde, Johnson, Kennedy, Easton, Lowndes, Lee, Noel-Williams, Thomas, Palmer, Robinson.

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