Clarets boss Stan Ternent knew the territory when he made the signing and has been totally unruffled by Gazzagate.

Just who said what to whom after last Saturday's 2-0 home success over Gillingham will probably come out in the wash in the end, but the reports of Paul Gascoigne's departure from Turf Moor seem to have been premature.

The Daily Mirror were confident that Gazza had said his farewells to his Turf Moor team-mates after Saturday's game, but Ternent was satisfied that they were way off target.

It is easy to see why the former England star could be perceived as being unhappy with his lot at the moment.

If you have just stepped down from the Premiership you really don't want to find yourself on the sidelines, but that is the position the former Tottenham, Lazio and Rangers star has found himself in over the past two games.

And against the Gills his services were not even required from the bench, which prompted certain pundits to presume that the player was on his way out.

Truth be told it was not surprising that Ternent did not use Gascoigne in the Gillingham game.

The Clarets were fighting against one of the more resolute defences in the first division and having the pace to turn that defence was paramount.

In the end it was Glen Little's deft footwork that proved the key to unlock the door as he set up the opening goal.

Having taken the lead the Clarets then set to work on building on that lead and the players already deployed had done enough to suggest that they did not need replacing.

There was quite literally no need for Ternent to throw Gascoigne on.

Now against Grimsby at the weekend it could be that Gascoigne's skills will provide the key to unlock the Mariners defence but only time will tell.

But the simple fact is that Ternent, with six points from the remaining two games still a must if a play-off place is to be gained, has to cut his cloth to suit.

If circumstances suggest that Gascoigne would be better introduced from the bench the so be it.

This season is all about Burnley having a shot at the Premiership and no one can doubt the lift that Gascoigne's signing gave the club and the town at a moment when they needed a boost for the final furlong.

No one can be sure that Gascoigne has taken his bat home, but whatever the situation no one player can be deemed to be bigger than the club and the aims of the club.

If his ego is bruised then that's a shame, but one would think after the years Gazza has had in the game and the knocks he has taken, being left on the bench by the Clarets can hardly be such a big blow.

So with two games to go it's important that everyone at Turf Moor pulls together.

Ternent is adamant Gascoigne is part of the fight for promotion and surely Gazza must realise that he might make his bow in English football in a play-off final at the Millennium Stadium - now that has got to be worth hanging around for!