Burnley Reserves 0 Coventry City Reserves 1

NORWEGIAN defender Rune Vindheim stated a strong case to follow former Brann team-mate Frank Petter Kval to Burnley last night.

Vindheim, who is out of contract with the top-flight Norwegian club, was given the chance to make a claim to stay in England with an appearance for Burnley's reserve side.

And, with Turf Moor boss Stan Ternent among the spectators he grabbed his opportunity to impress.

The left-sided defender, in fact, looked a class act against oppoisition who were no mugs -- Coventry fielding several well-known names, not least Gary McAllister.

Ternent now has to decide whether to follow up his interest and try to add Vindheim to his depleted squad.

Meanwhile, lightning has struck twice for the luckless Chris Brass who has become the latest contributor to the worst injury crisis he has known at Turf Moor.

Brass is set to undergo a second operation on his left knee inside seven months after tearing a cartilage in last Saturday's home draw with Wigan Athletic.

And that means he joins Mark Ford, Ronnie Jepson, Neil Moore, Paul Weller, Steve Morgan and Peter Swan on the absent list.

"We just seem to have gone through a bad patch with injuries, especially with first-team players.

"I have never known so many out at the same time during my time at the club," said a rueful Brass.

The skipper's current problem is the same as the injury he sustained in the Auto Windscreens Shield northern area final against Grimsby Town in March -- but not a recurrence.

"It's not as if it was going to come on, it's just unfortunate that it's the same situation.

"The leg was hyper-extended when the two of them landed on me," added Brass who felt the full force of Gavin Ward and Stuart Barlow as he won a brave header in the Clarets' goalmouth.

"The doctor did say I was lucky, though, not to do any ligament damage."

The original prognosis suggests an absence of six weeks but Brass, who was due to see a specialist today, won't know the full extent of the injury until having an operation which it's hoped will take place tomorrow.

"I'm just hoping it's a successful operation and I can be back as quickly as possible. I am not really a player who likes to be out for a long time. Once the surgeon gets inside then he could turn round and say it's not as bad as first thought. Or it could be worse so I won't really know until I come round tomorrow," he added.

The Clarets have sold out of their allocation of 3,132 tickets for Saturday's trip to Manchester City who look set to welcome one of their biggest gates of the season.

Burnley are not expecting to receive any more tickets and are advising supporters without tickets not to travel.

City attracted a gate of 32,134 for their first game of the season at home to Blackpool and that figure should be equalled on Saturday.

Colne Clarets are laying on eight buses and Burnley Supporters' Club are taking five for Burnley's first League visit to Maine Road for 23 years when a 0-0 draw contributed to their relegation from the top flight.

Colne Clarets leave the Morris Dancers at 12.15pm and then pick up at the Hour Glass, Nelson bus station, Brierfield Centre, Casterton Avenue and the Cafe Claret.

And the Burnley Supporter's club buses pick up in Colne at 11.30am then Nelson 11.45, Queens Gate 11.50, Burnley at 12.00pm and Rawtenstall at 12.15.

There will also be a coach leaving the Tin Bobbin at 11.40am.

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