GRAHAM BRANCH should be fit for the start of Burnley's First Division campaign despite being stretchered off in the 2-1 loss to Premiership side Chelsea.

It looked like another injury for the wideman when he fell to the ground clutching his left leg after kicking the ball out for a corner.

The 29-year-old had already missed the final ten games of last season with a knee injury.

But Burnley boss Stan Ternent confirmed it wasn't as bad as it looked and Branch should be ready to face Sheffield Wednesday next Sunday.

"He said he felt a little tweak in his Achilles. We will see how he is but hopefully he will be okay."

Ian Moore also left the pitch after scoring the opening goal as he felt unwell. That is not expected to be a problem but it's not so clear cut for Mitchell Thomas.

The defender has missed all the pre-season but Ternent is still holding out a hope that he could be back for the Owls match.

"Mitch has got a groin strain and we are monitoring it," confirmed the boss.

"I don't suppose he will be ready for the start of the season but with Mitch you never know.

"He is a very fit guy.

"We'll see but what we need to do with that is to make sure it doesn't recur so we are going on the safe side."

Ternent will now make a decision on his three trialists -- Alan Moore, Arthur Gnohere and Paul Hughes.

Moore came on for Branch and did quite well on the left wing while French defender Gnohere didn't have the influence he had in the 1-0 loss to Everton on Tuesday but he still showed some assured touches.

It does though look unlikely former Chelsea midfielder Hughes will stay after playing just 23 minutes of the match.

"They will know first as that is only fair," said the Clarets boss.

Burnley were more than a match for a cosmopolitan Chelsea who gave a debut to former Arsenal player Emmanuel Petit, who they bought for £5.5m from Barcelona in the summer.

England coach Sven Goran Eriksson was there keeping tracks on Frank Lampard, an £11m buy from West Ham, and the midfielder had a good game scoring the deciding penalty and testing sub keeper Luigi Cennamo with a stinging shot.

Chelsea had levelled Moore's goal when Steve Davis' back pass fell short and Mario Stanic nipped in.

But the best player on the park was Clarets wideman Glen Little -- who showed that the skills that beat the First Division defences would also work in the Premiership.

"I thought it was a good work out and I thought we played okay. We are getting there slowly but surely," said Ternent.

"It was a good goal by Mooro and it was a mistake for their goal but it is a good time to do it in pre-season matches if you are going to do it. And a penalty."

Ternent made wholesale changes swapping 11 for 11 in the second half -- while Chelsea were forced into one change when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was substituted before he was sent off after lashing out just after the break.

"All the squad have had a go at it against an extremely good side and good players," continued Ternent.

"We were pretty good in the first half and in the second half there were chances at both ends but overall I think their ball retention was a little bit superior to ours which is what you expect. But there were lot of good things.

"I thought we passed the ball quite well and kept a good shape and balance. And we showed some patience and created chances against a side that will probably finish in the top six in the Premiership.

Ternent added: "I wanted everyone to play. We have another couple of reserve fixtures this week where I may or not play one or two players so, by the time next Sunday comes round, we will be ready."