FORMER England starlet Paul Hughes is bidding to relaunch his career with the Clarets after seeing his Premiership days curtailed by injury.

Hughes is one of a quartet of potential new signings Burnley boss Stan Ternent has been checking out in pre-season and who will go as part of the Clarets squad to the Isle of Man tournament, starting on Sunday.

The 25-year-old midfielder, as reported in later editions of yesterday's Lancashire Evening Telegraph, joins Belgian Dimitri De Conde, former Middlesbrough winger Alan Moore and ex-Preston, Blackpool and Bury front man Tony Ellis in a 24-man squad.

And Hughes is eager to earn a contract offer after being released by Southampton over the summer.

The former England schoolboy international had been taken to the Dell towards the end of the 1999-2000 season by Glenn Hoddle, who had given him his first professional contract at Chelsea.

But a series of niggling injuries prevented Hughes from forcing his way into the first-team picture with the Saints last term and, after Stuart Gray replaced Spurs-bound Hoddle at the helm, Hughes was deemed surplus to requirements.

"I think the writing was on the wall when Glenn left," he admitted.

"Glenn was the one who knew me from our days as Chelsea and he was the one who brought me to the club.

"Stuart never really saw me play and he told me he couldn't really see me getting a contract, so I was allowed to leave."

"I never really got the chance to show what I can do and maybe they didn't want to take a player who they thought might be carrying an injury. But that's football. I certainly don't bear them any grudges."

Hughes now has the chance to impress Ternent and would appear to have the pedigree to bolster the Clarets midfield options.

Groomed by Hoddle at Stamford Bridge, Hughes was then handed his Premiership bow by Ruud Gullit in 1996/97, making 13 top-flight starts. Regarded as a good passer and a very mobile player, he wasn't afforded the same chances by Gianluca Vialli and, after loan spells in Division One with Stockport and Norwich, joined Southampton.

Although having played considerably more senior games, wingman Moore is in a similar situation as he looks to re-establish himself as a first-team player.

Ellis isn't in the same boat but would still see a move to Burnley as a new lease of life after leaving Rochdale at the end of last summer.

The 36-year-old striker last played in Division One with Stockport at the start of the 1999-2000 season but has scored goals wherever he has been.

He is highly thought of and well known to Ternent, having played for him at Bury and, with a short-term contract believed to be in the pipeline, could fill the role as the Clarets fourth senior striker when the season kicks-off.

Clarets tour squad: Michopoulos, West, Thomas, Ball, Davis, Armstrong, Little, Cook, Taylor, Payton, Johnrose, Mullin, Cox, Branch, Moore I, Weller, Briscoe, Maylett, McGregor, Cennamo, Moore A, De Conde, Hughes, Ellis.

PAUL SMITH'S potential move to Rochdale has broken down, leaving the former Clarets winger still to commit himself to a new club.

THE Clarets reserves play their first pre-season game at Kirkham tomorrow (kick-off 2.00).

BURNLEY stage their annual open day at Turf Moor tomorrow from 9am-3pm.

The Clarets first-team squad will hold a training session on the pitch from noon to 1pm before they leave for the Isle of Man.

Supporters wishing to have a tour of the ground should go to the Hargreaves Stand reception area between 9am and 10.45am.

The Fulledge recreation car park will be open for use from 8.30am.