DAVID May has sensationally answered Stan Ternent's SOS by signing on at Burnley for the rest of the season.

The former Manchester United and Blackburn defender has been drafted in to add vital experience to the Clarets' badly depleted squad.

And May, 33, seems destined to be thrown straight into a televised baptism of fire when the Clarets visit newly-relegated West Brom in Saturday's Sky TV clash.

Cock-a-hoop Clarets boss Ternent said: "David is a top class player. I am delighted to have signed him and he's here on a one-year contract, so we look forward to working with him."

May said: "Stan really sold the club to me.

"It came pretty much out of the blue because I've had a few other clubs interested in me, but as soon as I spoke to him I made my mind up.

"The reception towards me has been a bit hostile when I've played here before.

"I've played here with Blackburn and got stick and played here with United and got stick, so hopefully it will be third time lucky."

The move could resurrect the career of May, who has been ravaged by injury in recent years and found himself without a club after being released by the Premiership champions in June.

The Oldham-born stopper began his professional career in East Lancashire with Blackburn, where he made 150 appearances before moving to United in 1994 for £1.4m.

However, a succession of wretched setbacks curtailed his Old Trafford era and, despite being part of the double winning team of 1996 and winning both FA Cup and European Cup winner's medals in the treble-winning year of 1999, he played just 118 times in nine years.

A loan spell at Huddersfield under former United team mate Steve Bruce later in 1999 also ended apruptly when he picked up a back-injury on his debut.

Ironically, May's last game in a United shirt came against the Clarets last season in the Reds 2-0 Worthington Cup victory, before Alex Ferguson reluctantly decided to part company with May this summer.

The fit-again defender then headed north to try his luck on trial with Glasgow Rangers, joining the Scottish champions for their pre-season tour of Germany, only to fail to impress manager Alex McLeish enough to earn a contract.

And Ternent has now swooped to pull off what he hopes will be a defensive masterstroke by snapping up the free agent until next summer.

May, who joins former Manchester United colleagues Lee Roche and Luke Chadwick at Turf Moor, has been allocated the vacant number five shirt.

AUSTRALIAN defender Adrian Madaschi has reportedly joined Coventry City on trial after rejecting the offer of a short-term contract with Burnley.