ANDY Payton will have a scan on his injured thigh tomorrow as he fights for the chance to challenge his goal-scoring record.

The Clarets striker has missed Burnley's last two games after claiming his 23rd goal of the season in a 4-1 win at Stoke City.

Payton came off immediately after scoring that goal and in a way it would be fitting if his last touch of the season found the back of an opponent's net.

But he is keen to play at Northampton where he would need to score twice to equal his best-ever season's haul of 25 goals which he set eight years ago.

Whether he is able to return to the fray could depend on the results of tomorrow's scan, however, as Burnley won't take any chances if there is a sign of any serious damage.

"If it's just a strain and if he's fit he will come into the squad," confirmed manager Stan Ternent.

Payton's 20 League goals have played a massive part in keeping Burnley up and he had hoped to play against Fulham last Saturday in the game that finally confirmed the Clarets' safety.

However, he failed a pre-match fitness test and will need a 25 per cent improvement in his fitness to make a curtain-call at the Sixfields Stadium, when Northampton will have to win to have any chance of staying up.

Midfielder Lenny Johnrose will also have a scan tomorrow on a busy day for the medics attending to the Clarets squad. In addition, Steve Davis is booked in for the surgery to repair a double hernia problem that he has defied to help Burnley win their relegation fight.

Johnrose has been troubled by a calf injury which clearly affected him at Wigan on Monday, when he started for the first time in three matches.

"He deserves 10 out of 10 just for getting on the pitch. He is only playing at 50 per cent of his capabilities," added Ternent.

Given the clutch of wear-and-tear injuries that are now taking their toll, the end of the season can't come soon enough for Burnley.

However, one piece of good news is that Mark Robertson and Paul Smith both came through 90 minutes of reserve team action last night, although they couldn't help Burnley get the win they needed to avoid relegation from the Pontin's League First Division.

And Robertson would be a ready-made replacement for Johnrose if he is ruled out of Saturday's game.

Unfortunately for the midfielder, though, his comeback from a hernia operation has come too late for his inclusion in the Australian under-23 squad for their next international in Hong Kong on May 14.

Burnley Supporters Club travel times for Northampton: depart Colne 9.30am, Nelson 9.45, Burnley 10.00, Tim Bobbin 10.05, Rawtenstall 10.20.

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