MARCO Gentile today pleaded with Chris Waddle: "Give me a chance to show you what I can do in Division Two."

The Dutch defender made his senior Clarets bow in the midweek Coca-Cola Cup defeat at Stoke City.

And with the Turf Moor injury crisis increasing, Gentile was hoping to retain his place in the Burnley line-up for tomorrow's tough Division Two clash at Brentford.

Gentile said: "It was fantastic to get my chance at Stoke but to be honest I've not had the opportunity to show the manager what I can do yet.

"I don't know why I've not featured yet in the League but it is disappointing for me to say the least.

"I brought my family over Holland and it was a great ambition of mine to play in English football.

"I thought it was going to happen with Burnley but now I don't know what the future is.

"The manager just said he has enough defenders. He seems to have made his decision but I'm determined to try and make his re-consider.

"But, to be perfectly honest, while I'm not playing in the first team I don't want to stay.

"But if I am playing then I will very keen to stay with Burnley because this is a great club.

"I'm 28 now and I need first team football on a regular basis."

Gentile - signed on a three-year contract from MVV under the Bosman ruling in July - is reputed to be one of the highest wage earners at Turf Moor.

And he was one of six players transfer-listed by player-manager Chris Waddle earlier this month. "If it doesn't work I suspect I will go back to Holland or look for another club in England," he added.

"I will have to give it a few more months at Burnley to see what happens.

"But if the manager picks me again, and I'm hoping I will be involved at Brentford, then I came promise him and the fans that I will let them down."

Waddle has major injury worries for the Griffin Park engagement.

Strikers Paul Barnes and Andy Cooke are both fighting to shake off hamstring strains while defender Lee Howey and midfield pair Mark Ford and Michael Williams both face late fitness tests.

Gordon Cowans, who played so well at Stoke in midweek, is also included in the squad.

Burnley will choose from: Beresford, Woods, Weller, Eyres, Brass, Howey, Vinnicombe, Moore, Harrison, Matthew, Williams, Ford, Cowans, Waddle, Barnes, Cooke, Creaney.

BURNLEY'S A team take on Crewe Alexandra Reserves at Gawthorpe tomorrow (11am).

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