CLARETS boss Stan Ternent has slammed reports that Robbie Blake is facing an operation and up to six weeks out of action ahead of tonight's match against the club he signed him from.

Ternent paid Bradford City £1million for Blake last month but has yet to be able to name him in a starting line-up because of injury and lack of fitness.

The speculation about a serious problem followed Blake being subbed after 20 minutes on Saturday despite the fact that he had come on himself in place of the injured Tony Grant.

He insisted: "It is rubbish. It has been a big disappointment that he has not been fit but he is getting fitter and he is in the squad for tonight.

"It is difficult to come off the line and Forest changed the way they were playing.

"But Robbie Blake will be a fantastic signing for Burnley Football Club. We have now got different types of players as he can play with his back to goal, Gareth Taylor leads the line, Andy Payton scores goals and Ian Moore's pace is electric."

Blake himself is equally frustrated by his slower than planned introduction to life at Turf Moor, especially as he had hoped to be fit to start against his former team mates.

"It has been a bit frustrating with my injury but with games coming every Tuesday and Saturday is has been hard to get a full week of training," he said.

"The gaffer is holding me back because I am not yet fit enough but it is just one of those things. After the game at Watford I had cramp in both legs straight after the match.

"But I got some running done on Sunday and I think I am getting there."

Blake is one of Ternent's players who could benefit from the behind closed doors practice match that has been arranged following the postponement of tomorrow's scheduled reserve team game against West Brom at Turf Moor.

Mitchell Thomas and Andy Payton are both pencilled in to continue their build-up to full fitness although the friendly will come too soon for skipper Steve Davis.

"Steve has stepped up training this week and he will maybe join the full squad on Thursday or Friday, provided there is no reaction to his injury," he said. "But everything is going according to plan."