BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent may be forced to scour the transfer market in a bid to replace injured skipper Chris Brass.

Ternent's worst fears were realised when the knee injury Brass sustained in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Wigan was confirmed as cartilage damage.

Brass will now undergo an operation and could be sidelined for up to six weeks as he joins Mark Ford, Ronnie Jepson, Neil Moore and Paul Weller on the injured list.

With Peter Swan suspended and Steve Morgan not yet fit to return after a cartilage operation of his own, Ternent is down to the bare bones of a squad for Saturday's trip to Manchester City.

Brass himself has been filling in in midfield to help Ternent through his crop of injury problems so his absence leaves only teenagers Carl Smith and Paul Graham as obvious alternatives for the Maine Road clash.

Ternent has placed faith in his youngsters so far this season and is keeping his cards close to his chest over plans to replace Brass.

"Every game is hard but if you are good enough you are old enough," said Ternent.

But if given the opportunity the introduction of a more proven performer would probably be a preferred option.

"We'll see. I'll have to have a count up and sort something out," added the Clarets' boss.

"Chris Brass is a versatile player and when I want to be strengthening it just seems to be going the other way but it's all part and parcel of it.

"You can react to it two ways. You have got to be positive and get on with it.

"It's a blow for Chris and he is the captain but it gives a chance to someone else."

Ternent said he will have to decide on who wears the captain's arm band in Brass's place but it would be no great surprise if the vastly experienced Gordon Armstrong is handed the job. It will be Brass's second cartilage operation in a matter of months, although the player was counting his blessings that he had not sustained ligament damage.

The 23-year-old mainstay of the Burnley side was injured in March and missed seven games before returning for the final two matches of last season when he reached 100 League appearances for the club.

While Ternent is weighing up his options ahead of the visit to City - who drew 1-1 at Millwall last night with a last-minute goal by Lee Bradbury - he will take a look at two other possible additions to his squad when the reserves entertain Coventry City reserves at Turf Moor tonight (kick-off 7.15).

Ternent will take a look at a German goalkeeper, who will share the duties with new signing Frank Petter Kval, and a Norwegian central defender provided he received FA clearance to play the two trialists.

Coventry are one of three Premiership clubs the Clarets will face in the Pontins League First Division and the Sky Blues' side will be packed with exprience tonight.

Scottish international Gary McAllister has been named in the City squad as he battles back from a knee operation.

And he will be joined by Steve Ogrizovic, Ian Brightwell, Liam Daish, Gavin Strachan and Belgian World Cup player Philippe Clement.

Coventry currently top the table with four wins out of five and they will present another learning opportunity for what will be a youthful Burnley line-up.

"It's brilliant for them. They are in a good division and they have earned the right to be there," said Ternent.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.