HE has lit up the World Cup, scored stunning goals at Wembley, netted the winner in a Rome derby and won titles in Scotland.

But yesterday afternoon the Paul Gascoigne storybook failed to have the dream ending that the Burnley faithful craved.

Now with job offers apparently coming in from all over the world, be it Dubai, the United States or Turkey, it is quite possible that Turf Moor will turn out to be the ground where he bade farewell to English football.

Gascoigne came on in the 82nd minute to replace Ian Moore as the Clarets chased the crucial second goal that would have kept them above Norwich on goals scored.

How many other players would enter the fray and suddenly have his name chanted - by the opposition fans? That has been the case everywhere he has played for Burnley and you sensed that the Sky Blues' followers wanted to pay their respects to the most talented English player of his generation.

There team was playing for nothing but pride and fewer than 1000 supporters made the trip north but they may all be able to say they saw Gazza's last game in England.

The situation looked tailor-made for the 34-year-old as he came into a match that was incredibly stretched with acres of space up for grabs in the middle of the park.

He used the ball sensibly, linked well with Glen Little and posed a real threat to the Coventry defence - what was left of it.

But throughout his career his deadly dead-ball ability has been a feature and in stoppage time he had two chances to show what he could do.

Neither of them were wasted but the star of Italia 90 had to give second best to a man on his way to Japan and South Korea of World Cup 2002.

Sweden's number one Magnus Hedman made two brilliant stops, one low to his left, the other high to his right and Burnley's season, and in all probability Gazza's English career, was over.

"It did cross my mind that everything was set up for Gazza," admitted the Sky Blues caretaker boss Steve Ogrizovic, himself a legendary Coventry keeper. "But Magnus made two super saves, he is a top goalkeeper."

Stan Ternent, the man who brought Gazza to Burnley only a few weeks ago agreed: "It did look as if it was written for Paul and he did hit the target both times.

"I thought their keeper made two fantastic saves, especially the first one which pitched just in front of him."

When Ternent pulled of a similar transfer coup two years ago, bringing another England legend to Turf Moor, the signing of Ian Wright helped secure promotion to the first division.

The hope was that the arrival of Gascoigne would do the same thing and certainly Gazzamania helped inspire a 2-1 win against Preston North End the day after he joined, even though he did not kick a ball.

A promising home debut was spoiled by a late leveller for Bradford City and then he struggled in the games against Sheffield United and Wolves.

Since then his role has been that of a sub, coming on at Portsmouth and Grimsby and then finally against Coventry City yesterday.

In each cameo appearance he has offered something and hinted at what he is capable of but the fact remains that he is only a shadow of his former self.

It was always likely that a player who has had such a crazy mix of highs and lows throughout his career would go out with one or the other.

It had been hoped it would be wreathed in smiles following a winning goal at the Millennium Stadium to take the Clarets into the Premier League.

Instead it was with the famous Gazza tears welling up in his eyes as he left the field at Turf Moor on a day of immense disappointment.

The tears in Turin 12 years ago made him a national treasure. Yesterday's sorrow was shared by thousands in the stands and, thanks to Hedman, Gazza may never again grace English football.

It has been a remarkable career, a roller-coaster ride and his like may never be seen again.