THE HAWTHORNS will welcome back a Wembley winner when Micky Mellon lines up in the Clarets' midfield tomorrow.

Mellon joined West Bromwich Albion from first club Bristol City in February, 1993 and immediately helped them to promotion to Division One via the play-offs.

And he enjoyed a couple of seasons with the Midlands club before a change in management saw him move up to the North-West and Blackpool.

Mellon recalled: "It was brilliant. I signed for Ossie Ardiles and we got promoted in my first season in the play-offs at Wembley.

"I had a great time there but Ardiles wasn't there long enough for me.

"When he went I lost my place in the team. Keith Burkinshaw came in and like we've done the team got off to a flier and I couldn't get back in the side.

"When he got the sack Alan Buckley came in and he had to sell to buy the players he wanted, to bring the Grimsby lads across."

Tomorrow's return is therefore eagerly awaited by Mellon, particularly as Burnley travel in fine fettle on the back of six wins in their last eight games.

He added: "We look forward to every game at the moment. I don't know how many we're taking but I'm sure it will be a quite a few. And they always carry a big support so it should be cracking occasion.

"The two sides are going well, it should be a cracking game and hopefully we will come away with something."