Clarets summer signing John Mullin has undergone surgery on his injured toe to speed his return to action.

And the mid-week operation means the former Sunderland man could be included in Burnley's squad to face Chesterfield at Turf Moor tomorrow.

Mullin was withdrawn mid-way through the opening game of the season at Wycombe and missed the Clarets' Worthington Cup defeat at Maine Road on Wednesday night.

And Burnley boss Stan Ternent confirmed today: "He's had an in-growing toe nail which has bothered him for a while so I decided to get it done once and for all.

"When they had a look he had a nail that was really cutting in so he's had it done and he's on the mend.

"He may be fit for tomorrow, I honestly don't know yet."

Striker Andy Cooke also comes into that category and will be given every chance to shake off a knee injury he sustained as Burnley drew 1-1 at Wycombe thanks to his goal.

"I will add them to my squad and if they're fit they're fit but I'll give them as long as it takes," Ternent added.

Burnley start their Turf Moor programme looking to bounce back from the 5-0 defeat at Manchester City.

And Ternent has been eager not to over-react to that result, which he felt was not a true reflection of the game as a whole.

He said: "We have played one League match and there's all this shouting and bawling. We've lost a match, the first one in I don't know how many.

"The Worthington Cup is a financial exercise for us and in that respect it's a bonus on top of the League.

"I would have liked to have made progress in it - we might win 6-0, it's unlikely but possible - but the main priority is the League. We were turned over at Maine Road and it's how the players react.

"I'm disappointed if we can't make progress but I'm viewing it as another game for the players to gel and to have a look at it to pick what I consider to be the right team and the right system.

"It's important to keep it in perspective. One defeat in 13 games is not being off track."

And there have certainly been no major recriminations in the Clarets camp over the past couple of days, with Ternent annoyed at suggestions in one media source that he had "blasted" his players after Wednesday night.

"On the back of Ruud Gullit it's topical for managers to be blasting players but that's rubbish.

"I have every confidence in them. There's no question of doubt in my mind that they are good players and they will prove that.

"I want them to put that behind them and get on with doing what they're doing," he said.

Ternent will await the checks on Mullin and Cooke before naming his starting line-up.

But one decision already made is that with no second goalkeeper on the bench, man-for-all-seasons Ronnie Jepson will don the gloves in case of an emergency.

Burnley from: Crichton, West, Cowan, Mellon, Davis, Thomas, Little, Cook, Cooke, Payton, Smith, Johnrose, Branch, Mullin, Jepson, Armstrong, Lee, Grant.

Chesterfield from: Leaning, Hewitt, Payne, Breckin, Woods, Ebdon, Holland, Curtis, Beaumont, Willis, Reeves, Bettney, Simpkins, Lomas, Blatherwick, Lee, Gayle (gk).

Burnley kick-off their Football League Youth Alliance programme at Wigan Athletic tomorrow morning (11.00).

The Clarets launch their family village scheme tomorrow in an effort to encourage families to watch Burnley at Turf Moor.

The village, based in and around the Turf Moor leisure centre and run by the club's Football in the Community Programme, will provide pre-match entertainment including football games, music, videos and face painting from 12pm.

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