THE Turf Moor roar will be music to the ears of new loan signing Jay McEveley.

The Blackburn defender has been resigned to playing to the one-man-and-his-dog crowd after slipping down the pecking order at Ewood Park.

McEveley, 18, has had to digest a meagre diet of reserve team football ever since Slovakian defender Vratislav Gresko nicked his left back spot in the summer.

And the England starlet, who recently sampled the rarified air of international football in the World U20 Championships in Dubai, is looking forward to the cut and thrust of domestic football again at first team level.

McEveley said: "It's been frustrating being on the fringe of things having played so much last year.

"I asked to go on loan a couple of months ago and Graeme Souness said 'no, I want you to stay here'.

"So I was surprised - but made up at the same time - when he told me Burnley wanted me on loan and that I could go.

"I just want to play in league games in front of crowds and get some games under my belt, so this is a great chance for me.

"Hopefully the crowd will give me a good welcome and I'll just be trying to do my best for them."

McEveley, who has grown up aware of the fierce rivalry that exists between both clubs, added: "That didn't bother me one little bit. I just wanted to get out and play, it didn't matter where, to be fair.

"But hopefully the fans will accept me and not treat me as a Blackburn player, but as a Burnley player for the next three months."

There seems little doubt that will happen, especially following the terrific ovation Andy Todd received when he made a similar jaunt up the M65 back in September.

And the versatile defender, who earned plaudits last year during 15 appearances for Rovers - most notably during an impressive man-marking job on a certain David Beckham at Old Trafford - hopes the temporary move can have a similar effect on his career as Todd himself.

He added: "Andy has done well here in the past and gone back to Blackburn, where the manager has thought to put him back in.

"He's done well since, so hopefully that can happen to me."

The First Division will be a new experience for rookie McEveley, who seems sure to start on the bench tomorrow as Clarets boss Stan Ternent eases him into life at Turf Moor.

However, there will be a few familiar faces to speed up the settling in process!

He added: "With Blackburn being in the league two or three years ago, I spoke to a few of the lads and they said it was a tough, very physical league, but I would be able to cope with it.

"I already know Richard Chaplow from when we used to go to college in Preston together as first year YTS's and I also know Lee Roche because he came on trial to Blackburn in the summer.

"I trained with him a few times and know he's a good player, but the likes of Luke Chadwick I haven't seen much of.

"However, being around players my age helps a bit more, knowing there's experience in the team to help you along."