RESERVE team goalkeeper Wayne Russell was on red alert today with £1 million pound rated Marlon Beresford on the brink of major surgery for a double hernia.

I can reveal that the Clarets deputy 'keeper has been placed on emergency standby for tomorrow's Division Two clash at Turf Moor and is in line to make his first senior appearance of the season against Bristol Rovers.

It means Mullen is likely to step up his efforts for senior cover with untried 16-year-old goalkeeper Craig Mawson the only available option as cover if Russell gets the nod. "Marlon is not happy with the hernia problem and is in a good deal of pain," revealed manager Jimmy Mullen.

Meanwhile, Bristol Rovers commander John Ward fired a Turf Moor warning shot today and rapped: "We don't fear Burnley."

Ward steers the 1995 Wembley Play-Off finalists into Turf Moor unbeaten on their travels in the league since October and searching for their first ever win at Burnley.

But he predicts the toughest assignment of the season for his developing Bristol Rovers outfit who have set the division alight away from Twerton Park with 18-goal Marcus Stewart leading the charge.

"I don't want to frighten Jimmy Mullen, but we've won five times away in the league.

"And we haven't lost away from home for three months," he said.

"Only league leaders Swindon Town can better that and we're looking for a result at Turf Moor.

Young Nottingham Forest full-back Craig Armstrong is expected to feature for Rovers tomorrow. He spent a short loan spell at Turf Moor last season and linked up with John Ward this month.

Burnley choose from: Beresford/Russell, Brass, Vinnicombe, Swan, Winstanley, Harrison, Weller, Joyce, Cooke, Nogan, Eyres, Francis, Hoyland.

Bristol Rovers will select from: Collett, Channing, Clark, Tillson, Armstrong, Sterling, Browning, Matthew, Miller, Beadle, Stewart.

There will be a minute's silence in memory of former Burnley manager and player Harry Potts before tomorrow's home game. The Turf Moor flag has been at half-mast since Mr Potts' death last week and players will wear black armbands for tomorrow's game.

Burnley's A team entertain Carlisle United at Gawthorpe tomorrow.

The scheduled B team fixture at Liverpool has been postponed because of their involvement in the FA Youth Cup. There is no new date for the game.

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