BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent was today planning to complete a sensational triple swoop of Premiership players.

Charlton goalkeeper Paul Rachubka and Manchester United starlet Neil Wood are both set to join Newcastle midfielder Bradley Orr in signing loan terms with the Clarets.

Newcastle reserve team skipper Orr, 21, is already in Stan Ternent's squad for Saturday's trip to Wigan after completing an initial month's loan.

And the Clarets chief hopes to have further options at his disposal following the expected capture of his two remaining top flight targets.

American stopper Rachubka, 22, served his apprenticeship at Old Trafford and made his debut in Brazil in the famous Maracana Stadium during the controversial FIFA World Club Championships in 2000.

He went on make one Premier League and one League Cup appearance for the Reds before joining Charlton for £200,000 in May 2002 following a loan spell with Oldham.

The 6ft 2in Californian will provide Brian Jensen with stiff competition for the goalkeeper's jersey.

Meanwhile, Wood has been a regular in the Manchester United reserve team after initially signing as a trainee in 1999 and turning pro the following year.

Wood, 21, who can play either in midfield or attack, has not yet played for Alex Ferguson's first team.

Midfielder Orr, a product of Newcastle's Academy, has yet to break through into Bobby Robson's first team plans at St James' Park, despite making the squad on several occasions.

But Clarets boss Stan Ternent is delighted to have secured one of the Premiership giant's brightest young prospects for a crucial spell.

Ternent said: "Bradley is an up-and-coming lad who hopefully has a big future.

"He is a strong, powerful lad who can play anywhere in the midfield and who has a good enthusiasm and appetite for the game.

"He also gives me competition for places in there because we have been a bit short. If Paul Weller, Tony Grant or Richard Chaplow get injured, I don't have any other midfielders."

First Division rivals Bradford and Rotherham were both competing with the Clarets for the signature of Orr, who is waiting on a new contract offer from United as his second professional deal expires at the end of the current campaign.

The Liverpudlian - a former schoolmate of Liverpool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard - has been with Newcastle since he was 14.

Described as a hard-working, box-to-box player, he last made the Magpies squad for the Boxing Day trip to Leicester City.

And with United boss Robson keen to allow his youngsters to gain vital first team experience elsewhere once they have broken into the reserves, Ternent has persuaded his opposite number that a spell at Turf Moor would provide a perfect stage for Orr's football development.

Ternent added: "I've had my eye on for Bradley for a while, and we have taken him for an initial month and then we will see what happens beyond that.

"It all depends on if he likes us, if we like him and what Newcastle want to do because Sir Bobby has done me a real favour by loaning him.

"It will do him and Newcastle good the world of good to get him playing."

Orr, who consulted close friend and former Burnley loan star Jay McEveley before opting for the loan move, added: "I got the call yesterday from Bobby Robson, asking me if I'd like to go and I told him I'd love it.

"It's a great opportunity and I'm delighted to be here. Because Newcastle has a big, strong squad and the quality of players is a different class, I've been in the squad a few times, but never got my debut.

"It's difficult to make that step up into the first team, but I can't wait to get to training with the lads.

"Burnley is a big club and it's great to be here. I really can't wait to get into it.

"Hopefully from my point of view, it will be for three months, but it depends on Stan Ternent and Bobby Robson.

"They'll sort it out between themselves - I just hope it can be for the longer period."

Burnley Reserves derby clash with Preston North End yesterday was a late victim of the cold snap.

The Clarets had high hopes that last night's mini-derby could be played at Turf Moor, despite a flurry of snow and plunging temperatures.

However, the game was finally called off at 11am yesterday following a pitch inspection.