ADRIAN Heath today backed out-of-form striker Kurt Nogan, pictured right, to break free from his current lean spell - and to reach the magic 20-goal barrier by the end of the season.

Nogan, who has gone 11 league games without finding the net, is having his worst run since joining the Clarets in February of last year.

Confidence seems to be the missing element, perfectly illustrated when he fired wide against Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night after carving out an opening that left only the keeper to beat.

But the fact that he made the opportunity in the first place convinces Heath that Nogan can capture the two goals he needs to ensure a haul of 20 in the league.

And Heath knows all about this target - in the 92-93 season he became the last Burnley player to make the landmark.

David Eyres went close the following season, bagging an admirable 19.

But Heath believes that Nogan has the quality to go one better and become the first player since him to break through the imaginary barrier.

"If he continues to get in there trying to hit the target, then I'm sure he'll start scoring again," said Heath. "Obviously, from our point of view, we hope that it's sooner rather than later.

"But I have no doubts or worries about Kurt Nogan. Class tells and he has the class to get back on track.

"He just needs a goal, and it doesn't matter how - whether it bobbles in off the far post or hits him on the backside.

"Then he'll hit a run again." Heath is well aware of the importance of Nogan getting on that run right away.

Today Burnley were away to Wrexham and Carlisle visited Wycombe Wanderers.

Depending on the results from those games, Burnley could tonight be smack in the centre of the relegation zone. And that would leave them requiring a win and a draw in their final two matches to guarantee survival.

"I knew it wasn't going to be easy but I didn't expect us to be in this position entering our last few games," admitted Heath, who shows little sign of feeling the pressure.

"But this is where we are and we've got to secure enough points in our remaining matches to keep us in this division so we can start afresh next season.

"Kurt is vital to that because he's been our top goalscorer since coming here.

"We need him as soon as possible to be firing on all cylinders."

Heath has come up with his own recipe to try to get the entire team firing on all cylinders.

"I think that diet is important and I've banned fish and chips after matches," he said.

"Coming back after a game, rather than sitting outside for half an hour for fish and chips, we take our own food now.

"We're working on cereals and beans on toast after a match rather than fish and chips.

"Firstly we can get back on the coach straight away after a game and secondly it's more beneficial to them."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.