OLD Trafford boss Alex Ferguson has blocked a Burnley bid to lure Manchester United's exciting young goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington to Turf Moor.

And, in a new development today, I can also reveal Burnley were turned down when they asked Arsenal to loan rookie Highbury keeper Lee Harper.

The Clarets made their move for immediate cover following the news that first choice goalkeeper Marlon Beresford could be out of action until April.

Beresford was admitted to a Manchester hospital for surgery on a double hernia at the weekend.

But neither Ferguson nor Bruce Rioch were willing to loan their youngsters out to Burnley unless they had a firm guarantee of a first team start. "Wayne Russell will be number one choice over the coming weeks, but I just need someone in there on the bench as cover and competition for him," explained Clarets boss Jimmy Mullen.

"I thought there was a reasonable chance of young Pilkington joining us, especially after United had signed Tony Coton from Manchester City as cover for Peter Schmeichel.

"But United were of the view that it would not benefit the lad if he did not get a start and he was left on the bench. Arsenal said the same and I will just have to step up my search further over the next few days.

"I am very keen to get somebody in for the weekend. It is a priority now in view of what has happened over the last 48 hours."

Pilkington, 21, has made just a handful of Premiership appearances for United, but travelled as cover for Schmeichel for United's fourth round FA Cup tie at Reading on Saturday with Coton sidelined. His last full appearance in the United first team was the third round tie against Sunderland at Old Trafford earlier this month. Pilkington featured against Burnley in the Marsden Lancashire Cup at Turf Moor in July 1994.

Burnley are expected to make an early decision to see whether tomorrow night's Division Two clash against Oxford United at Turf Moor can go ahead. Burnley have no new date for their home game against Bristol Rovers. The match was postponed on Saturday due to the heavy snow.

The Football Association have rescheduled February 13 and 14 as possible FA fourth round replay dates, providing there are no police objections. That would mean Burnley's scheduled league match at leaders Swindon Town on February 14 would be postponed if Swindon are forced into a fourth round replay against Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park.

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