PAUL Stewart could be a shock summer target for Burnley.

The striker has announced he will quit Sunderland next week after their final Premiership game of the season at Wimbledon on Sunday.

And I understand the Clarets could be poised to bring Stewart back to Turf Moor on a free transfer after his decision to be nearer his family home in Blackpool.

The player has a couple of offers on the table but favours the Clarets after Peter Reid recommended him to Clarets manager Adrian Heath.

Stewart said: "I am going to live with my wife and children and I will be moving on to a club closer to home.

"I have lived in a hotel for a year and it has been difficult. It is the hardest decision I have made.

"It was between my family and playing football away from my family. I'm nearly 33 and I want to live with my family in Lancashire."

The link, though, is hardly likely to meet with universal approval from Burnley fans.

Stewart was far from a crowd favourite with the Turf Moor faithful after his hapless two-month loan spell from Liverpool during the 1994-95 relegation season.

Many fans accused the star of being overweight and unfit during his spell.

He made six appearances for the Clarets but failed to find the net and signed off with a red card in a controversial 2-0 defeat at Barnsley.

But Stewart appears a wholly different proposition now, recovering his fitness and losing over a stone and a half in weight.

He has netted several Premiership goals this season and scored the opening goal in last weekend's emphatic 3-0 win over Everton at Roker Park.

Stewart joined Peter Reid in March 1996 after a short loan spell from Anfield and played his part in their First Division championship success last season.

A former England international and FA Cup winner with Tottenham in 1991, Stewart has enjoyed several big money moves, joining Spurs from Manchester City for £1.7 m in June 1988 and moving to Liverpool for £2.3 m in July 1992.

Burnley Reserves finished off their campiagn with a 3-1 win at home to Bradford with triallists Sean Hessey, a defender from Liverpool who has recently turned down an offer from Newcastle, and Sean Stevens, a Millwall second year YTS who scored the opening goal, appearing alongside Manchester United's David Hilton.

Burnley are still working on the final dates for their pre-season tour.

A seven day trip to Ireland still appears to be the favourite choice with four fixtures, two in the North and two in the Republic a distinct possibility. The tour will run from July 20-27.

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