NIGEL GLEGHORN is ready to retire from professional football this summer but would jump at the chance to help Burnley beat the drop before signing off.

Gleghorn is back at Turf Moor after loan spells this season at Brentford and Northampton Town.

And while the experienced midfielder admits a call-up to the Burnley side for their final three games of the season is a long shot, he would readily answer the call should it come.

"I will play in the reserves and see where it goes but there's no doubt I would give everything to help keep them up," said Gleghorn, who helped Northampton challenge for a play-off place during his spell at the Sixfields Stadium.

"I enjoyed it because I was playing. It was at the right end of the table but if I was asked to play in the final game of the season against Plymouth I would love to play in it.

"Burnley have beaten some of the top clubs and done really well for themselves to take it to the last game.

"It will be like a cup final atmosphere. I have had one relegation in my career and they are particularly hard games to play in but I would relish it."

After playing 33 times in the Second Division last season Gleghorn has started just one game under Chris Waddle for the Clarets and logically he admits he has little chance of figuring again.

But with Paul Smith out for at least the games at Bournemouth and Oldham and John Mullin suspended for the rest of the campaign there is a slot available on the left-hand side of midfield.

Waddle and Chris Vinnicombe are more likely candidates for Saturday's trip to Dean Court on Saturday but with the relegation scrap likely to go to the wire Gleghorn's experience could possibly be a factor.

He added: "If the manager came and said everyone was injured or suspended and wanted me to play of course I would play.

"Burnley pay my corn and in training and matches I want to win. That's the way I am.

"It's a strange game. It would be a nice little scenario to come back and help keep them up. People have come in from out of the side this season and done well."

It's an ironic fact that should Gleghorn have to play out his 13-year professional career in the reserves his last League game will have been against Burnley. The 35-year-old played for Northampton in their 1-0 defeat to Waddle's men at the start of the month but with the Cobblers now over their injury problems Gleghorn's wage was trimmed from the bill.

That was the seventh club of an impressive career which has seen Gleghorn play over 450 League games for Ipswich, Manchester City, Birmingham, Stoke, Burnley, Brentford and Northampton - tasting promotion three times.

He believes he could extend it a little further but is instead looking to the future by lining up a teaching post centred around football coaching at South Trafford College and playing non-league football - probably in the Unibond League.

"I think I could probably have got another little contract somewhere but that's short term and I am now looking at the longer term," he added.

"Football is a precarious occupation, especially on the coaching and management side, so I am looking at teaching for a bit of stability.

"I will also be playing semi-pro. I enjoy playing and that's what Saturday afternoons are for."

Gleghorn is likely to play for Burnley reserves against Rotherham at Turf Moor tonight (kick-off 7.15) as the Clarets bid to go joint top of the Pontins League Second Division. Meanwhile, Carlisle lost 1-0 at home to Grimsby last night to virtually guarantee their relegation to the Third Division.

BURNLEY launched their new-look strip last night with variations to both the home and away kits. The claret has been dropped from the away colours which will be yellow and blue for the next two years, while the home strip has reverted to a claret body with blue sleeves.

The home strip will be in shops in June and the away strip in August, although orders can be taken at Turf Moor club shops now. The Adidas kits also boast the logo of new sponsors P3 Computers. The strips were launched at the Ex-Clarets In Sport fashion show at the Friendly Hotel.

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