BURNLEY'S relegation showdown at Carlisle tomorrow is a massive game for all involved, writes PETE OLIVER.

But one player in particular has special reason to mark it down as a crucial day in his career.

Richard Liburd launches a bid to resurrect his playing days after completing a jail sentence and signing for the Cumbrians.

Liburd was handed a four-month prison term just before Christmas following a serious assault and had his contract terminated by Bradford City.

The former Middlesbrough defender, who signed for the West Yorkshire club for £200,000 in 1994, had fought the club's decision and won the backing of the Football League when the Bantams originally tried to show him the door after he was charged.

However, the League stipulated that City would be within their rights should he be convicted and punished and, when he was sent down seven days before Christmas, he was sacked.

Now Carlisle have thrown the 24-year-old full-back a lifeline.

And Liburd, a former team-mate of Burnley boss Chris Waddle at Valley Parade, will make his debut at right-back following loan signing Ronnie Wallwork's return to Manchester United.

Liburd was still a Bradford player the last time Carlisle lost at Brunton Park and United supremo Michael Knighton is hoping their home form will keep them up.

Knighton has set a 55-point safety target and with seven home games to go a maximum return would take them to that figure.

That looks a long shot but Burnley won seven successive home games prior to last Saturday's draw with Brentford which may provide some inspiration for the Cumbrians.

That run included an Auto Windscreens Shield win over holders Carlisle, who also provided Waddle with his first Football League win as a manager on October 11 last year.

The Clarets will therefore be looking for a hat-trick as they bid to start afresh in their bid to climb out of trouble. Burnley looked to be wriggling free a fortnight ago but their momentum has been slowed by two defeats and a draw in their last three league games.

And they are now one of the four teams locked on 34 points in the drop zone.

Carlisle are one of that quartet after winning for the first time in six games at Preston in midweek. And one side could therefore inflict some major damage on one of their keenest rivals tomorrow.

"It's going to be a huge game," admitted Carlisle's Nick Wright.

"They beat us in the Auto Windscreens Shield which I watched from the stand.

"They have been on a good run and seemed like a decent side but at home we are confident we can beat most teams."

Wright scored twice in the 3-0 win at Preston after completing a permanent move following a loan spell from Derby County, whose manager Jim Smith was bombarded by E-mails from Carlisle fans asking him to let Wright sign.

The deal followed an appeal on a Carlisle web-site from supporters convinced Wright had a major role to play in attempting to keeping them up.

Derby hope their faith is well founded as they say they stand to cash in on the transfer to the tune of £35,000 if Carlisle stay up.

Knighton has put the figure at substantially higher than that but, either way, Wright will be worth the investment should he help engineer an escape.

Wright plays behind the front two of top scorer Ian Stevens and former Preston forward Allan Smart, who is now filling the boots of £1m man Matt Jansen following his move to Crystal Palace.

Smart scored in the opening two games of the season but played just once more before fracturing a bone in his foot and then injuring knee tendons when trying to cycle his way back to fitness.

Carlisle have also cashed in on Republic of Ireland under-21 international Rory Delap, who joined Derby shortly after playing at Turf Moor in the Shield.

But they have added to their resources in the shape of Cameroon international Jean Claude Pagal.

Pagal is on a month's trial after arriving in Cumbria from St Etienne. He is likely to on the bench tomorrow but at least that will give him the chance to renew acquaintances with Waddle.

The last time they were in opposition was in the quarter-finals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy. It is indeed a funny old game.

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