BURNLEY boss Heath's pre-season planning looks set for a huge double boost over the next 24 hours.

Boavista striker Bambo is expected to jet in from Portugal this evening and he could well be joined at training tomorrow by another new addition to the squad.

The manager is now quietly confident that his latest signing, a midfielder from a First Division club, will be unveiled imminently.

Other talks are also progressing, though it is now starting to seem unlikely that either Norwich's Jeremy Goss or Exeter's Jon Richardson will be joining Heath's crusade.

The manager admitted: "I have spoken to Jeremy a few times and he is aware of our interest.

"But he hasn't come back to me yet and I have been involved with other midfield players since then."

So that looks like one move that has cooled and there could be a similar outcome to the Richardson situation.

The young Exeter defender has spoken to both Burnley and Preston North End but it is understood he might well have decided to stay at St James' Park. But, if things stay on course with Bambo and his, as yet un-named, midfield target, Heath will be satisfied that things are starting to take shape. One problem that could yet crop up is the club's pre-season tour of Northern Ireland.

It is an important part of Burnley's build-up programme and the outbreak of serious trouble has cast a shadow over the province.

But Heath remains hopeful that the tour can still go ahead as scheduled.

One of the clubs Burnley are due to play, Glenavon, were the focus of attention today after an attack on one of their players.

Teenage defender Donal Gray suffered serious injuries after being attacked by a gang.

"Obviously we are continuing to monitor the situation and we are well aware that we must avoid any undue risks," said the manager.

"We have also been in contact with people over there and they say that, generally, the situation has quietened down.

"It is something we will have to continue checking bu t we are hopeful that the tour will not be affected."

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