EXCLUSIVE by TONY DEWHURST

BURNLEY'S want-away striker Kurt Nogan today linked up with Scottish Premier League side Heart of Midlothian.

Troubled Nogan travelled north last night and was due to begin a short trial at Tynecastle Park today.

And if the Burnley forward creates a favourable impression with Hearts manager Jim Jefferies - it could lead to a player-swap deal.

Although Hearts have NOT yet made a concrete bid to land Nogan, I understand that Clarets manager Adrian Heath could ask for one of the Hearts first team squad as part of an overall package, which could take Nogan to Edinburgh in a £400,000 deal.

Heath confirmed: "Kurt will be on trial with Hearts for the next couple of days. They have expressed an interest and they are going to have a look at him. That's as far as the situation has gone at the moment."

Hearts boss Jim Jefferies told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph: "I had a chance to sign Kurt Nogan when he was at Luton Town and we are definitely interested in bringing him here. We've watched him a number of times recently and we know his track record for scoring goals." The situation clearly needs resolving and today's developments could offer Nogan a way out of his Turf Moor impasse.

Nogan, signed from Brighton for £250,000 in February 1995, has been in bitter dispute with Burnley since before Christmas over a contract wrangle. Then, a week ago, the player was arrested for a public order offence.

The striker missed Saturday's notable 1-1 draw with fellow promotion rivals Crewe Alexandra with an injured knee.

The Turf Moor chief, meanwhile, was delighted with the draw at Crewe. A Paul Barnes strike two minutes from time handed the Clarets a share of the points at Gresty Road.

"In some ways this was our best result of the season because not many teams will go to Crewe and get a result," said Heath. "They have quality players and are always tough opposition on their own ground."

Heath added: "The lads had a great second half when they took the game to Crewe. In the final analysis, we were well worth a point. "Sometimes scorelines dictate football matches and the way you play. If at 0-0, and you are still in the game, then you protect what you have.

"If you go a goal behind, like we did, then you have go out and do something about it. My players showed a lot of character in the way they responded to that challenge.

"Even at the end they were still trying to get forward and get something out of the game. They never gave up the fight.

"Their goalkeeper (Kearton) made two great saves from Damian Matthew and Peter Swan. I also must praise our defence. We were under a lot of pressure from Crewe in the first half but we kept our discipline and that proved a foundation for landing a result."

Stoke City boss Lou Macari has dismissed weekend reports linking Nogan with a move to the Victoria Ground as "utter nonsense."

Burnley's A team lost 4-1 to Crewe at Gawthorpe with Colin Carr-Lawton the goalscorer. The B team also tasted defeat, losing 2-0 at Liverpool.

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