BURNLEY'S hopes of taking Tranmere winger John Morrissey on loan have been dashed - for now.

I understand that the Clarets had been hoping to get the wide man in time for tomorrow's Turf Moor clash with Division Two hot-shots Swindon Town.

But sources close to the Wirral club said that negotiations broke down because Tranmere wanted the deal to be a permanent one, rather than a loan deal.

Clarets boss Adrian Heath - boosted by the news that Andy Cooke, pictured right, was back in training and keeping his fingers crossed that Kurt Nogan will recover in time - may still try to get Morrissey before next week's transfer deadline.

But I beleive that Heath wanted to take a look at the player before considering buying him.

Meanwhile, old mate Steve McMahon stands between Heath and his first victory in the saddle on home turf.

McMahon's promotion chargers Swindon arrive as deposed Second Division leaders. Blackpool's 3-1 conquest over the Clarets knocked them off top spot for the first time since in 1996.

But Heath takes his bow in front of an expectant home audience which threatens to smash through the 10,000 barrier and attract Turf Moor's best home gate of the campaign.

Heath said: "I'm looking forward to the Swindon Town game because they have proved to be one of the best sides in the section this season. "The game at Blackpool gave us a fair barometer as to what we need to aspire to to reach the level of promotion contenders. Tomorrow's test will be just the same.

"I believe my players have responded very positively in the past week. That is vitally important.

"I think those fans who have not seen us in our last two away games will see an improvement tomorrow. We have made progress in each of the last two games. I thought our football was far superior for an hour at Blackpool.

"There should be a great atmosphere at Turf Moor and I'm sure our crowd will respond."

Heath knows the Swindon player-boss well. They played together at Everton in the mid-eighties and for England under-21. The pair still keep in close contact but McMahon will not play against the Clarets due to a hamstring injury.

"Steve McMahon is a big mate of mine and we were good friends at Everton together " Heath added.

"We will know what to expect. The one thing you do know about a Steve McMahon side is that they are going to be highly motivated.

"He'll probably manage like he plays and that will mean every player giving his all. There won't be many shirkers or shrinking violets in a Steve McMahon side. "They are also a very well organised team with a lot of threat up front. Peter Thorne, Wayne Allison and Stephen Finney are all scoring goals.

"But Macca will probably have a bit of a dilemma for tomorrow because he only wants to play two up front.

"You forget it was only a couple of years ago that Swindon were in the Premier League. Knowing Steve he will be wanting to get them back there as quickly as possible."

Heath will be forced to give leading goalscorer Kurt Nogan a late fitness test with the Clarets striker still suffering from a stomach virus.

Peter Swan, John Francis and Jamie Hoyland are also ruled out. "We are down to the bare bones," said Heath.

Burnley will conduct a minute's silence before tomorrow's game in memory of the Dunblane Primary School tragedy and for former manager and player Alan Brown who died last week aged 81.

Burnley chief scout Brian Miller was due to attend Mr Brown's funeral at North Devon crematorium in Barnstaple today. Both the Burnley and Swindon players will wear black armbands tomorrow.

The Burnley B team entertain Rochdale A at Gawthorpe tomorrow (11am). The A team at are at Blackpool.

The Turf Moor ticket office will remain open until 7pm tonight for sale of tickets for the Swindon game.

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