CHRIS Waddle is considering promoting one of his young strikers to the first team squad to try and boost Burnley's bid to climb away from the Second Division relegation zone.

Kevin Henderson and Colin Carr-Lawton are the potential candidates in the frame as the Burnley player-boss looks for ways of ending a dismal League and Cup run which has produced only one win in eight matches.

Waddle has been looking around for a new loan signing, to replace Gerry Creaney, in recent weeks but so far without success.

And he is not in a position to go out and buy a striker to challenge the men currently in possession, Paul Barnes and Andy Cooke.

Lee Howey was tried up front in an attempt to provide more punch but that experiment seems to have been abandoned by the manager and Howey played in his more usual role as a central defender in Saturday's defeat by Wigan.

Henderson, signed from non-League Morpeth, where he had a reputation as a prolific goalscorer, and Carr-Lawton have done themselves no harm by their performances in the reserves and junior teams.

And Waddle admitted he was contemplating giving one of them a chance in the senior squad.

"We keep trying to find players but maybe we will have to look at pushing one of these two through," he said. "Maybe I will put one of them on the bench at Fulham on Friday. Nobody has a right to a shirt and, even though we have been playing some decent stuff, when you are at our end of the table you have to be looking to win games.

"I can't fault the players for effort but, for all that we did against Bristol City and Wigan in the last two games, we still finished with two defeats." Waddle was aware that, when he signed Henderson for a small fee, the striker would take time to settle down in his new surroundings.

It also takes time for a player to adjust to full-time football.

But he has had a few weeks now and the time could be ripe to put him on the bench, as the manager believes in having competition for places.

And Waddle knows there has to be some kind of threat to the players filling the attacking positions at present.

Originally, he saw young forwards such as Carr-Lawton, and also Phil Eastwood, as potential first team players who would probably be seen in the best light next season.

But, in view of Burnley's problems, their learning curve may have to be accelerated.

Scoring goals was a major problem at the start of the season and, while Burnley have only been goalless twice in the last two months - against Rotherham and Wigan, both at home - they aren't finding the net often enough to win matches.

Burnley Supporters' Club are running coach travel to Fulham for Friday night's game. Pick-up times are: Colne 12-15pm, Nelson 12-30pm, Burnley 12-45pm, Padiham 1pm, Rawtenstall 1-15pm. Prices: members £14, non-members £16, concessions £12, juveniles £10. Bookings are being taken by Viscount Central (01282-439371 daytime) or Dave Spencer (01282-435176 after 5pm). Bookings are also being taken for the Oldham and Gillingham games with times to be annunced later.

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