CLARETS: Cooke misses three games

The Clarets centre-forward is in line for a three-match ban after his first half red card at Notts County.

Cooke got his marching orders for head-butting defender Ian Baraclough in retaliation for a reckless challenge that earned the County defender a yellow card.

But Turf Moor chief Adrian Heath was unhappy at the referee's decision and raged: "I can assure the referee that if Andy Cooke had head-butted him (Baraclough) he wouldn't have walked away the way he did.

"I thought it was a handbags job and I was very surprised to see the red card shown.

"Cookey's sending-off changed the whole complexion of the game and it left to us to play over 70 minutes with only 10 players.

"Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of all, though, is that we are likely to be without him for the first few games of next season. That is a real blow." Meanwhile, Heath is expected to make a decision over the clutch of triallists currently at Turf Moor.

Heath, though, said he is unlikely to follow up his interest in Everton midfielder Chris Price.

The 21-year-old, who is available on a free transfer at the end of the season, has spent the last fortnight at Turf Moor.

But Heath added: "We are still reviewing the situation but we are unlikely to follow up our interest."

But Heath is expected to take a closer look at Manchester City's young centre-half Jim Bentley and he could feature in Wednesday's second team fixture against Shrewsbury Town at Turf Moor, along with Manchester United winger Dave Hilton, who scored twice in the massive 9-2 win at Mansfield on Thursday.

Bentley played for the reserves twice last week and impressed the manager. "He is a strong boy and he has the opportunity to earn a deal if he performs well."

Midfielder Matthew Tisdale has returned to Premiership Southampton after two reserve games with Burnley.

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