ALAN Mahon is one of three Burnley players expected to make their home debuts tonight after sealing a deadline day move from Premiership Wigan.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder has joined on loan until the end of the season, when a £200,000, three-year deal has been struck with the Latics.

Mahon, 28 next month, will now line up alongside home debutants Andy Gray and Phil Bardsley as the Clarets host Norwich City at Turf Moor tonight (7.45pm KO).

Burnley boss Steve Cotterill revealed: "It's been a busy couple of weeks and it's been a mad rush to make sure we beat the 5pm deadline to get Alan signed in time.

"We managed to sort out a deal with Wigan to take him for the rest of the season, with an agreed permanent deal going ahead at the end of the season.

"We're delighted to have him on board and looking forward to having him in the squad hopefully for the next three and a bit years."

Cotterill added: "I'd like to thank (Wigan manager) Paul Jewell for all his help with this. We've had a couple of good chats this week and I'd like to thank him very much for his help in assisting the transfer to go through pretty quickly."

Mahon, who joined the Latics from Blackburn Rovers in February 2004, has played in 13 games this season, scoring a memorable goal in their Premiership win at Aston Villa in October but failing to make the squad again following their FA Cup exit in January.

The Dublin-born, left-sided midfielder began his professional career with Tranmere Rovers in the mid-1990's, helping the Wirral side reach the League Cup final in 2000 before joining Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon on the expiry of his contract.

However, he was back in England six months later to sign a loan deal with Blackburn, making his Rovers debut at Turf Moor and helping Graeme Souness's side to win promotion back to the Premiership before sealing a permanent £1.5 million move to Ewood Park.

After failing to hold down a first team place at Ewood, loan spells with Ipswich and Cardiff arrived before he finally joined Lancashire rivals Wigan two years ago.