BURNLEY winger Paul Smith has found himself a "minder" in player-manager Chris Waddle, who is anxious to protect the comeback star from the effects of the recent slump in Turf Moor fortunes.

Smith had a nightmare start under the new regime at Turf Moor, suffering a broken foot on the eve of the new League season.

And, while he has crowned his comeback by playing in the first team again, his return co-incided with a downturn in the team's form.

He was a late withdrawal from Tuesday's night's team which lost to Rotherham in traumatic circumstances, after damaging an ankle in training.

And Waddle hinted that he was not displeased to have to give the 21-year-old winger a break anyway.

For he is eager to get the best out of Smith in the long term not just the short.

There was a chance that Smith might be fit - after working with the physio - for this afternoon's game against Northampton.

But Waddle was reluctant to place too big a burden too early on the comeback kid's shoulders. "Paul is a very good player, we know that," said Waddle.

"But he missed his pre-season because of injury and it takes time to get match fitness and sharpness.

"Because of the situation we are in, we have to be very careful with him. If you are winning a lot of games and in the top half of the table there's no problem. "But he came back into the side just when we started to have a dip and that makes it much more difficult.

"I am sure he will be back in the team soon but we have to make sure it's the right time."

With today's tough game against Northampton Town followed by an even more difficult test away to Bristol City on Tuesday, it's not easy to pick the right moment.

But there are other more pressing concerns just now and Waddle knows how important it is to pick up some quick points to help boost confidence - even though he finds it difficult to understand why a side showing such good spirit only a few weeks ago should have changed so much.

"We don't want to be going to Bristol on the back of another defeat," he admitted.

"The players have to get back to the bread and butter stuff and find the confidence we had three weeks ago.

"If we are confident then the passing and movement will come from that."

Club shop manager Peter Davis has been made Burnley's new commercial manager.

Since Tom Skelly's departure for health reasons some months ago, a sales and marketing team have been looking after the commercial operation.

But Mr Davis has now been officially appointed, with the shop still coming under his jurisdiction.

Burnley's FA Youth Cup second round tie away to Hull City has now been arranged for next Tuesday, December 2, at Boothferry Park (kick-off 7pm).

Hull defeated Newcastle to earn the home tie.

If a replay is needed it will be at Turf Moor on Wednesday, December 10 (7-15pm).

Previous sport story

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.