AUSTRALIAN youth international Mark Robertson has signed for Burnley, writes TONY DEWHURST.

The 20-year-old Aussie has spent the last fortnight on trial at Turf Moor and today agreed a two-year deal with player-manager Chris Waddle.

The deal will be based around Robertson's future appearances for Burnley and, technically, there will be no transfer fee with his club, Sydney-based Marconi Fairfield.

Robertson starred for Australia in the World Youth Championships in Malaysia last summer and Waddle said: "Mark is a good footballer who I think has a very good chance of making it in the game.

"I think it is another decent signing for us just a day after we agreed a similar deal with Neil Moore."

Waddle will delay naming his squad until late fitness tests on several first team faces prior to tonight's Coca-Cola Cup second round, second leg at Stoke City.

But the player-boss will definitely be without Steve Blatherwick, Gerry Harrison and Michael Williams, while defender Lee Howey is a major doubt. Waddle - who will probably play - is also likely to rest Mark Ford.

Ford, the ex-Leeds midfielder, picked up a heavy knock in the derby match against Preston and, with Stoke virtually securing their place in the next round after a 4-0 cruise at Turf Moor, Waddle will not be taking any additional risks.

But one surprise name on the team sheet could be reserve team coach Gordon Cowans.

With the injuries piling up, the ex-England and Blackburn Rovers man could feature in midfield for the Clarets while loan signing Gerry Creaney will definitely get a start. I also understand that Dutch defender Marco Gentile - one of six players transfer-listed by the Clarets - could make his senior bow for Burnley's first ever visit to the Britannia Stadium.

Waddle said: "While we want to go to Stoke and give a good account of ourselves we are down to the bare bones.

"Really it is a case of the walking wounded and to see who will be fit.

"In a realistic world we are not going to progress any further in the Coca-Cola Cup unless something spectacular happens tonight.

"That is why I am already planning towards our game against Brentford at the weekend which is by far the more important fixture.

"I may even take the option of resting a couple of players tonight and I am certainly not going to risk any of the injured lads, even if they have half a chance of playing.

"In fact, I'm so short of options I might even have to play Pauline (Waddle's Turf Moor secretary)!

"I want to give everybody time to recover for Brentford. Until we have the fitness tests before the game it will be impossible to predict the team I will be able to put out."

Stoke will choose from: Muggleton, Pickering, Griffin, Sigurdsson, Tweed, Keen, Wallace, Thorne, Kavanagh, Whittle, McMahon, Mackenzie, Schroeder, Crowe.

New signing Robertson has impressed Waddle for several weeks now and the player delayed his return Down Under with Burnley showing enthusiastic interest. Robertson describes himself as a "utility player, comfortable in defence and midfield." He said: "I had a couple of offers from Holland but when the opportunity came up to join Burnley I decided it was right."

Robertson arrived at Turf Moor after a week's trial with Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers.

Second Division Bristol City - who announced a loss of £387,672 in their annual accounts - have revealed that their manager John Ward was on the shortlist for the job at Burnley before the appointment of Chris Waddle.

Vice-chairman John Laycock said Burnley made an official approach to Ward, who was assistant to Adrian Heath at Turf Moor before moving to Ashton Gate last March.

The approach came shortly after Heath left Burnley to team up with Howard Kendall at Everton.

"We put it to John and gave him time to think about it but he quickly came back and made it clear he didn't want to leave," said Laycock.

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