BURNLEY have rejected an audacious double bid for Andy Cooke and Glen Little from Port Vale.

Vale boss John Rudge, who watched Cooke score twice for the Clarets in their 2-1 win over Millwall on Tuesday night having made his approach some time earlier, wanted the two to keep Vale out of a First Division fight for survival.

He is looking for a front man to replace Lee Mills, who was sold to Bradford City for £1 million in the summer, and sees Cooke as the man to score the goals which will keep Vale up.

And with right winger Gareth Ainsworth interesting Leeds United, Little may have been seen as the ideal replacement to continue his partnership with Stoke-born Cooke, who scored 20 goals last term.

But Burnley boss Stan Ternent stressed that the pair are not available wouldn't be heading for the Potteries.

"I am trying to build a team, not destroy one. Port Vale made a bid and I turned it down. I want to keep my better players," he said.

Ternent has an open policy with his players and told the duo of Vale's interest.

"They agreed a contract and they are happy to stay at Burnley and want to take Burnley up a division," he added.

Rudge has around £600,000 to spend from the sale of Mills although he could also generate some cash by selling former Blackburn Rovers youngster Ainsworth. But his bid fell way below Burnley's valuation of Cooke and Little who are likely to be valued at nearer £1 million each.

"I talked to the board and the chairman and they had a chat and rejected it," Ternent added.

Cooke and Little are two of Burnley's most prized assets and were tied up on new three-year deals in the summer which removed the threat of losing the pair for nothing under the Bosman ruling next summer.

But that may not deter would-be buyers who will be watching the likes of Cooke and Little closely after their achievements last season and in the early part of this.

"It's a normal consequence when you have got players of quality. You will get enquiries," added Ternent. Ternent is more concerned with strengthening his squad and with that in mind watched a trio of trialists in action for the reserves at Sheffield Wednesday last night.

Ternent will have to decide whether to follow up his initial interest or take a further look at goalkeeper Frank Petter Kval and defenders Brian Reid and Romuald Petit.

On the injury front, Ronnie Jepson should be fit to return to action at Luton Town on Saturday after missing the win over Millwall with a calf strain.

"I perhaps could have slipped him on and it might have set him back two or three weeks or something.

"I didn't know but I just had the idea that a good week's rest and treatment will do more good," said Ternent.

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