OK. Well let's start with the good news.

Seven days ago, when Steve Cotterill surveyed the state of his substitutes bench, he would have seen an assortment of kids, crocks and coaches.

At least with Friday's flurry of activity and the arrival of Messrs Harley, Spicer and Lowe, the manager has the basis of a squad.

In Harley, Burnley have what they haven't had since the departure of Mo Camara -- a bona fide left back.

Graham Branch will try his best for the club anywhere on the pitch, but the further up it he goes, the more comfortable he looks.

Nineteen year old Keith Lowe looks to have something about him -- and having played in the Premiership, he should have.

Given the injury prone hamstring of Frank Sinclair and the potentially season threatening injury to Wayne Thomas, Cotterill may well need him for more than a month.

If he is half as successful as last season's import from the Midlands, Gary Cahill, he'll do for us.

John Spicer meanwhile is the unknown quantity, but the boss seems quietly confident that he might just prove to be a good player for us in the fullness of time.

There's the rub. Spicer, along with Wade Elliottt and Garreth O'Connor he is the third League One player to arrive at Turf Moor this summer.

At other clubs, newcomers would have time to bed in and gradually get used to the higher level of football.

However, with Steve Cotterill having to operate with a small squad, the Bournemouth boys have to sink or swim.

At least it promises to be an exciting season for the newcomers.

In fact the fledgling Championship table suggests that if it's entertainment you are after Burnley are the team to watch.

There have been 21 goals in league games involving the Clarets this season, a stat that only Sheffield Utd can match.

Sadly, there are marginally more goals going into the Burnley goal than the oppositions.

Only rock bottom Millwall are leakier. Which is most un-Burnley like.

But then this is hardly surprising considering that McGreal, Sinclair, Thomas, Duff, Branch and Lowe have all played central defence this term.

A consistent central defensive partnership should stop the flow.

Maybe the break has come at the right time. Fingers crossed, when we resume it will be with a fully fit squad.