GARETH Taylor has handed Burnley a summer injury scare after suffering a worrying knee injury on international duty.

The Clarets' striker is sweating on the results of a scan after damaging a cartilage during Wales 2-0 defeat to the USA in California on Monday.

Ironically, the injury was sustained as Taylor, 30, celebrated his first start for his country in more than five years.

And both player and Clarets boss Stan Ternent - who helped organise Taylor's treatment on the player's return from the States - will be hoping the problem clears up in time for the start of the new domestic campaign in just 10 weeks time.

Taylor, who was forced out of action in the US following the injury, revealed: "The scan results are due back sometime this weekend.

"After that, I'm due to meet up with the gaffer on Monday to see a specialist and discuss the findings."

Taylor hobbled out of the Welsh game after a collision with Preston's US winger Eddie Lewis shortly before half time of the San Jose friendly.

The Clarets' hitman added: "I was enjoying the game until I got the knock. I just collided with Eddie and my leg twisted.

"I hoped to run it off early in the second half, but it just never eased off and only lasted five or ten minutes.

"I was gutted when the Welsh surgeon told me he thought it was a nicked cartilage.

"But I've been lucky with injuries and I suppose if I was to pick anything up, now is the right time to do it because I would hate to miss any games when the season starts again."

A number of high profile withdrawals from Mark Hughes' Welsh squad then allowed him to make his first start since facing Jamaica in March 1998.

And goal-poacher Taylor hopes the setback will not damage the chances of adding to his treasured collection of 12 Welsh caps.

He added: "It was frustrating because I've had to wait such a long time to get a start for Wales and couldn't do myself justice."