BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent reckons the capture of Blackburn Rovers rookie Jay McEveley moves him one step closer to assembling a "fantastic side".

The Clarets have completed a three-month loan swoop for the teenager, as exclusively revealed in later editions of last night's Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

And Ternent is delighted to have the left-sided defender on board as the first step in strengthening his wafer-thin squad.

He said: "Jay is a very young, quality player who is as good, if not probably better than what we've already got.

"That's what I want and to find that sort of quality is very difficult, so Graeme Souness has done me a favour again, like he did with Andy Todd.

"But of course it's a two-way street as we'll be giving Jay first team football, so it's good for Burnley and it's good for him."

McEveley, 18, who will play against Coventry at some stage tomorrow, is the first player Ternent has added to the roster since making the triple loan swoop for Todd and Bolton duo Delroy Facey and Gareth Farrelly in September.

And after ending a fruitless few months, the Clarets chief hopes the next capture will not prove as difficult.

He added: "I said when I came to the club I wouldn't tell any lies, and that's what I still think.

"I'm close to having a fantastic team, and I probably need just need three or four players, but there are always the doom merchants who will criticise.

"I try not to be frustrated as I know the circumstances. All the fans, the chairman, the board of directors and everyone associated with the club would want another three, four or five players.

"But circumstances dictate at the moment and that is how things are."

Ternent also has David May back from suspension for tomorrow's visit of the Sky Blues, who have been rocked by player/manager Gary McAllister's decision to step away from all club duties for the foreseeable future to care for his seriously ill wife.

However, Clarets midfielder Richard Chaplow misses out as he serves the first ban of his professional career.

Striker Ian Moore will retain the captain's armband after his winning start against Sheffield United at Turf Moor last weekend.

Ternent added: "We've been doing alright lately and we've had a bit more of a spring in our step with the supporters getting behind the club.

"It's marvellous when you've got confidence and you're winning matches with the crowd behind them, so long may it continue.

"We've got Coventry next and it would be nice to get a win and keep things going to get past that 30 point mark.

"They haven't lost many games in the last eight and they are a very tough team to beat.

"They've some good players, but all the games in the First Division are tough matches and anyone is capable of beating another side on the day.

"It's a very tight league, but if you keep winning, you can get up there. A couple of wins and you can get wherever you want to be."