DESPITE the lack of numbers in his first team squad, Stan Ternent sent several of his senior players into action for the reserves at Wolves last night.

Now he will hope that those players will benefit from the run-out when it comes to the serious business of picking up the first League points of the season when Crystal Palace visit Turf Moor on Saturday.

Last week Ternent opted not to risk any of his first team squad in the reserves but he has acknowledged that some of them need games under their belts if they are to be in a position to help the club away from the foot of the first division.

The Burnley boss savaged his players for the second time this season after the defeat at Reading on Tuesday night and his first response was to put Paul Weller, Robbie Blake, Andy Payton, Graham Branch and Dimitri Papadopoulos into the reserves.

Papadopoulos, from the penalty spot, and Blake got the goals that ensured a 2-0 victory at Molineux.

Both players have been used sparingly this season with Blake relegated to the bench since his disappointing display on the opening day of the season.

He had looked to be bright in pre-season after his injury problems following his £1million switch from Bradford City in January but has still to really start his Turf Moor career.

As for Weller, he was on the bench at Reading after struggling against Sheffield United, and he will hopefully have benefited from the full half he played last night.

He has been badly hit by missing virtually the whole of pre-season with a foot injury and he is needed in the midfield as a creative force.

Reserve boss Ronnie Jepson was delighted with the efforts of both the youngsters and senior pros and he said: "It was a good all round team performance.

"All the players worked hard and I can't fault anyone. It was a good work-out for the older players and that is what the reserve team is for. That will help to get their fitness better and hopefully add to the manager's options.

"It certainly helped the young players to have some experienced heads around them and the senior pros were smashing.

"We kept the ball a lot better than last week, our decision making was good and Robbie took his goal well. It was a good night."

Papadopoulos, who scored a hat-trick in the same fixture last season, has again been called up to international duty for the Greece Under-21 side.

He, like Wales striker Gareth Taylor, will now be unavailable for the trip to Pride Park a week on Saturday.

The fact the Nik Michopoulos has again been left out of the full Greece squad means that the Clarets are one player short of the three needed to have a match called off.

As for Derby, they might have keeper Mart Poom away but their former England Under-21 stars Chris Riggott and Malcolm Christie are now too old for selection and so the game looks set to go ahead.