CHRIS Waddle has revealed his decision not to play Dutch import Marco Gentile - his wages!

The Clarets player-manager has overlooked the defender since the start of the Second Division campaign.

And Waddle exclusively revealed to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph: "Marco Gentile is a very big earner at the club.

"Sometimes you look at the wages and think I could get two people in for the money I am paying Marco.

"That is not the only reason because we've also got an excess of centre-halves here.

"I rate centre-halves the way I rate them - and Marco is is down the pecking order."

Ironically, with a growing Turf Moor injury crisis, Waddle could be forced to play Gentile out of necessity in Wednesday's Coca-Cola Cup second round, second leg tie at Stoke City.

"That is very much a possibility," added Waddle.

"If the injuries do not show any sign of clearing up then Marco could feature at Stoke."

In a surprise selection, Waddle recalled utility man Gerry Harrison to his line-up for the 1-1 draw at Turf Moor against Preston.

He added: "If Gerry can force his way back into the side when he has recovered from his hamstring injury then he has every chance of coming off the transfer list.

"I was very impressed with the way he played before he was injured.

"I think Gerry had got it in his head that if he couldn't play in defence then he didn't want to play at all.

"But he has since come to see me and explained that he will play in midfield if needs be, which is nice to know.

"But it doesn't change the fact that I am trying to move players on at this club in a bid to raise cash.

"Burnley have had two to three years when the club has gone nowhere, but I'm gradually trying to build a side here.

"Maybe I thought it was going to happen a lot quicker. I now realise it is going to take longer than I first thought."

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