RONNIE Jepson and Paul Smith are both closing in on comebacks to leave Burnley boss Stan Ternent with the welcome prospect of his first injury-free squad.

Jepson has been ruled out since early September after rupturing an Achilles tendon at Reading.

And Paul Smith hasn't played since the Clarets beat Oldham near the end of October.

But both could be back in action within the next few weeks to close the book on what has been a catalogue of serious injuries since Ternent took over at Turf Moor last summer.

Barring any fresh setbacks, Paul Weller will remain the only long-term absentee as he battles back from a bowel illness.

The young midfielder, who has played only twice this season, has undergone one operation to cure the problem and is preparing for a second as he continues his fight for a return to the game.

Jepson returned yesterday from a further visit to the sporting injury clinic at Lilleshall and Ternent is looking forward to monitoring the striker's progress next week. "He has been stepping it up each time and I will see on Monday how he's doing," confirmed the Burnley boss.

"Hopefully when he gets back he won't be far off, maybe two or three weeks."

And Smith's return should be even sooner than that after the winger had an operation to flush out both his knees.

"Paul is doing well. He's up and running and back in training," added Ternent.

The Burnley boss is still "writing the pair off" in terms of first-team selection but their progress means he will soon have added competition for places and more depth to a squad he still feels is under strength.

Meanwhile, Michael Williams may have done enough to clinch a move to First Division Oxford United.

The Burnley midfielder, who has been on trial at the Manor Ground, impressed as Oxford reserves went down 3-2 to Chelsea in the Avon Insurance Combination League. However, any further moves towards a permanent switch for the transfer-listed player have been put on the back-burner until Oxford have played their glamour FA Cup tie against Chelsea on Monday night.

Transfer talk was not the agenda yesterday as the United squad enjoyed a day at Ascot races as part of their build-up towards the televised cup clash.

Former Clarets' keeper Tony Parks will be keeping his fingers crossed that his move to Nationwide Conference club Barrow doesn't turn sour next week.

Parks has been instrumental in helping the Cumbrian club climb away from the relegation zone.

But Barrow face a winding up order on Monday which threatens the club's future and Parks' two-year contract which he signed when moving from Turf Moor earlier this season.

The Clarets' rights issue closes next Tuesday when it should become clear how much the club stands to gain from existing shareholders.

The figure hinges on what level of shares are taken up by Ray Ingleby - who looks poised to join the board - and other fairly major shareholders like Burnley businessman John Turkington.

Former club sponsors Endlseigh also have a significant holding - believed to be around 2,000. And although they would want to retain their shares to show their continued commitment to the town they would appear unlikely to invest further larger sums in fresh shares.

"If we are going to take the opportunity to buy those it would become public knowledge," said marketing supervisor Andy McKell.

Any shares not taken up by the deadline on Tuesday can then be allocated to other investors by the club's board of directors which will be crucial in attracting fresh invesment and making the share sale a major success.

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