GLEN Little is out of Burnley's pre-season tour to Northern Ireland.

The 22-year-old midfield player has a hamstring injury and Clarets manager Chris Waddle has been forced to scratch him from his Irish plans.

It is a massive blow to the former Crystal Palace player who, ironically, first came to Burnley's attention on the same trip to Northern Ireland last year.

His transfer from Glentoran - whom Burnley meet again on Saturday, July 26 - was a record for the renowned Irish League club.

But Little's Clarets career has been blighted by injury and he has failed to establish a regular place on the first team.

The Londoner would have hoped for a successful pre-season to make a fresh start and impress new manager Chris Waddle.

But this latest setback could wreck his hopes of securing a place in Burnley's starting line-up in the coming season.

"It's a blow to the player certainly," said Waddle.

"No player wants to pick up an injury at any time but especially in the build-up to a new season," said Waddle.

"And I, as manager, don't want players out through injury.

"It's impossible to maintain a completely clean bill of health though so these things will happen. "It's disappointing for a player when he does all the physical work and then he's not available for the games.

"But if Glen's progress continues at the present rate he should be fit and healthy in time for the new season.

"And at the moment he's my only injury concern so that's not bad."

Burnley beat off keen interest from Aberdeen, Hearts and First Division Birmingham City to land Little who scored the winning goal in the Irish Cup final two seasons ago against Glenavon at Windsor Park.

He came to Turf Moor with a glowing recommendation from former Burnley and Northern Ireland star Billy Hamilton who predicted he would be difficult to keep out of the side.

But from November last he has started only six games and been introduced as a substitute in just six more.

Waddle has named an 18-man squad for the Northern Ireland trip: Beresford, Woods, Williams, Weller, Eyres, Vinnicombe, Harrison, Cooke, Gentile, Hoyland, Winstanley, Smith, Huxford, Matthew, Barnes, Helliwell, Ford, Blatherwick.

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