HARRY Redknapp believes Burnley have a terrific young manager' in Steve Cotterill.

The Portsmouth boss takes his Premier League side to Turf Moor tonight, for their Carling Cup third round clash, knowing they are meeting a Clarets team in good form.

And Redknapp, who knows Cotterill through their mutual association with AFC Bournemouth, believes that the 43-year-old's astute operating and knowledge of the game can make Burnley a driving force.

"I know Steve well. I think he's a terrific young manager," he said.

"He did a great job at Cheltenham, he moved on and went to Stoke and probably made a mistake going to Sunderland as a number two when he'd been a manager. It's not easy after you've been a manager to become a number two.

"But he's now back where he belongs, managing, and he's done a great job at Burnley. They're playing ever so well and had fantastic results in the last few weeks, winning at Colchester, winning at Sheffield Wednesday drawing at Bristol City.

"It will be a tough game, they're a good side.

"I didn't manage Steve when he had his spell at Bournemouth, I'd left before that," added Redknapp, who managed the Cherries from 1983 to 1992.

"I just know how enthusiastic and how thorough he is and I have no doubts he's going to do well.

"He absolutely lives for football and I think he's terrific, I really do. I think he's got a great future.

"Burnley's a great club anyway.

"For us older people, Burnley will always be one of THE clubs.

"When I look back at Burnley they were one of these teams, in 1961-62 runners-up in the league, getting to the Cup final. I could reel off all the players.

"Even after that, they produced great players in people like Dave Thomas, who's a big friend of mine, Steve Kindon, Ralph Coates, Martin Dobson all came through. Burnley's a proper football club."

Portsmouth, who have spent the last few days in the north west on the back of their game at Ewood Park on Sunday, have already completed part one of their East Lancashire mission after earning their first away win of the season against Blackburn Rovers, courtesy of Kanu's single strike.

Redknapp expects to make wholesale changes to his starting line-up from Sunday for tonight's cup encounter, but not at the risk of surrendering their place in the competition.

"The cup's important to us. You want to have a run in it and see how far you can go.

"I've brought everybody up here and I've got a good squad of players and I need to play them.

"I've got enough belief in them to know they can do the job - Jamie Ashdown the goalkeeper's good, there's lot of good players amongst them so I need to play them.

"It's not as if I'm bringing in kids - they're all good players."

The last time Redknapp was at Turf Moor was during Portsmouth's Championship winning season in his first stint in charge in 2002-03.

On that occasion Pompey ran out 3-0 winners.

"Stan Ternent was in charge and we went there and played very well that day," Redknapp recalled.

"I think Steve Stone made his debut for me and we really did play well and beat them quite well.

"But Turf Moor's a tough place to go to. It's a good ground, good atmosphere. It's a proper football club."