CHRIS Waddle will make a late decision on his own fitness before naming the Burnley team to face Millwall at Turf Moor tonight, with a possibility of Paul Smith being handed his first start of the season if the player-manager is ruled out.

Waddle, who has allowed midfielder Nigel Gleghorn to join Brentford on a month's loan, has a knee problem which forced him to sit out the second half at Millmoor on Saturday.

And he is fighting against the clock to be fit in time to play against highly-placed Millwall.

There has been some improvement in the injury but he admitted he must be regarded as doubtful.

"I twisted a ligament inside the knee at Blackpool and I stretched it again when I got brought down before half time. I can't really kick the ball when it goes like that," said Waddle.

"Obviously, I have to be careful, I don't want to stretch it completely where you can be out for weeks and weeks, so I'll leave a decision as late as I can.

If he fails to make it, Smith must be a contender for a place - though Waddle is aware of the winger's lack of match fitness at senior level.

Nevertheless, It was Smith who replaced the player-manager for the second half at Rotherham.

Otherwise, there does not seem likely to be much change. One man who won't figure in the squad is Gleghorn, who has made just one senior appearance for Burnley this season.

He was one of several players made available by Waddle following his arrival at Turf Moor.

New Brentford boss Micky Adams was keen to add some experience to his squad and the loan deal has gone through in time for Gleghorn to be available for the Londoners at Northampton tonight.

The loan could lead to a permanent deal, as Gleghorn is available on a free.

Meanwhile, Waddle is hoping Burnley can cash in on their unbeaten home record tonight after losing the last League game, at Blackpool.

"The good thing is that we have shown good character to bounce back," he said.

"We have had some tricky away games at Luton, Blackpool and Rotherham and it's nice to focus on the League which is the main thing.

Burnley are expected to choose from: Beresford, Brass, Howey, Moore, Vinnicombe, Waddle, Williams, Cowans, Weller, Barnes, Cooke, Smith, Blatherwick, Harrison, Ford.

Millwall will have on-loan winger Michael Black, of Arsenal, available again after the cup ties and Paul Shaw, who once had a spell at Turf Moor, is hoping to shake off a hamstring strain. Their squad is expected to be: Spink, Brown, Newman, Bowry, Law, McLeary, Allen, Doyle, Wilkinson, Sturgess, Savage, Black, Shaw, Hockton, Grant, Bircham.

Burnley's away match at Grimsby Town on Saturday has been made all-ticket. Tickets priced £12 (no concessions), will go on sale at noon tomorrow. Next Tuesday's FA Cup first round replay against Rotherham at Turf Moor will be all pay on the night. Normal League match prices apply and, for this game, concessions will be available at the turnstiles.

Fixture congestion has led to the postponement of two of Burnley's Pontin's League games.

Tomorrow night's scheduled reserve match at Lincoln has been called off because of the Sincil Bank club's League and cup commitments. A new date has not yet been found.

Because of home fixtures, the reserve game against Rochdale, due to be played at Turf Moor on November 26, has been switched to Wednesday, January 14 (kick-off 7-15pm).

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