MANCHESTER City forward Gerry Creaney is being offered a career lifeline by Chris Waddle - if he can prove his fitness.

Creaney made his Clarets bow as a second half substitute in the blood and thunder derby against Preston North End.

And today the player-manager told Creaney: "Get yourself back to full fitness and we can sit down and talk about a contract.

"I've always admired his skills as a footballer at Celtic and Portsmouth and I'm definitely interested in signing him.

"He is a very intelligent footballer and has great movement and technique.

"People will say it is a talent wasted but Gerry is only 27 and I'd like to think I could put him back on the rails at Burnley.

"If Gerry can get himself fully fit then there is a future for him at Burnley because he is a footballer with Premiership ability.

"Gerry is keen to give it a go because if it doesn't work out for him then where does he go?"

Creaney, the ex-Celtic and Portsmouth striker is available on a free transfer from Manchester City, and Waddle added: "A new manager came in at Maine Road (Frank Clark) and decided that Gerry was not his cup of tea. "Maybe Gerry has lost a bit of enthusiasm for the game because he hasn't had anyone who has believed in him over the past few years.

"I certainly believe in the lad and I reckon he can do a job for Burnley."

Meanwhile, Waddle said Burnley were unlucky not to take all three points after Andy Cooke's late leveller cancelled out Kurt Nogan's first half strike for Preston.

Waddle added: "I think we played some lovely football and showed great character.

"We penned Preston in during the second half and we definitely deserved the points.

"Gary Peters came in after the game and said we absolutely annihilated them in the second half. Considering the injuries we've had over the past few days then I was extremely pleased with our performance.

"I was disappointed with the goal we conceded. It seemed to be a misunderstanding."

Vince Overson made his Shrewsbury debut in a 2-1 defeat to Notts County at Gay Meadow. Overson is on a month's loan with the Third Division side.

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