TURF Moor player-boss Chris Waddle today heaped rich praise on his Burnley squad.

The Clarets returned from Northern Ireland unbeaten in their four pre-season fixtures.

And Burnley saved their best performance to last as two goal Andy Cooke inspired a thumping 4-1 win over Irish League part-timers Glentoran.

Waddle said: "The squad really impressed me during the tour and I was especially pleased with their fierce commitment. The lads have been very professional on and off the pitch. I can't praise their approach enough.

"The nice thing about this squad is that there are no big-time Charlies here.

"Everybody gets on very well and that helps a manager. It is a long season and they've got to stick together. I think they will."

Meanwhile, Burnley have denied a late bid for defender Peter Swan from First Division Stoke City.

Waddle added: "At the moment I would fully expect Peter Swan to be joining Bury."

Waddle is expected to make his Turf Moor debut against Brazilian side Gremio on Thursday.

Boundary Clarets stage their annual general meeting at the The George the Fourth pub at Burnley tonight (8pm).

Burnley players will run out to a flash new signature tune on Thursday. Player-manager Chris Waddle has requested that the Van Halen song "Jump" be played before every home game. Waddle ran out to the Van Halen track when he was playing at Marseilles.

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