Auto Windscreens Shield: Burnley v Notts County - big match preview

CHRIS Waddle is poised to hand his young guns a chance to shine in the low-key surroundings of tonight's Auto Windscreens Shield tie against Notts County at Turf Moor.

With one or two niggling injury problems as a hangover from Saturday's victory over Second Division, the Turf Moor player-boss will not be taking any chances.

His priority is to keep Burnley in the Second Division so he cannot afford to take risks with anyone carrying a knock.

Waddle is likely to sit out tonight's match, along with Gerry Harrison and Mark Ford.

But he is still taking the tie seriously and, even though players such as Kevin Henderson, Colin Carr-Lawton and Mark Robertson may well feature at some stage, the manager still wants to make progress.

The reward for the winners is a home game against Carlisle in the next round and Waddle said: "We want to have a run in this competition.

"It is a chance to make a bit of money for the club and, of course, there is a Wembley final at the end of it.

"Mark Robertson will probably get a game tonight. He is quick and strong, has a good shot and, while it took him a little time to adjust, he is now getting close to the first team.

"Kevin Henderson and Colin Carr-Lawton will also be in the squad and Jamie Hoyland will probably come in for Gerry Harrison."

Andy Cooke is also expected to play tonight before starting a two-match ban for clocking up five bookings.

The last of them was at Gillingham on Saturday, January 3, so his suspension starts when Burnley got to Bristol Rovers this Saturday. The game also offers an opportunity for Paul Weller to get back in senior action after his cartilage operation.

It will help Waddle too if he can have a look at his younger strikers before then but he also knows that he needs to push the Andy Payton-Paul Barnes deal through and remains hopeful it will be wrapped up in the next couple of days.

Burnley are expected to choose from: Beresford, Brass, Winstanley, Moore, Little, Blatherwick, Cooke, Smith, Matthew, Robertson, Hoyland, Henderson, Carr-Lawton, Weller.

Notts County, like Burnley, have more important League priorities on their mind as they currently stand top of the Third Division table.

Manager Sam Allardyce may well make one or two changes and, in any case, he is without two first-choice central defenders in Gary Strodder and Matt Redmile, who are both suspended.

Another defender, Ian Hendon, will also need a fitness test.

Andy Kiwomya, who played one senior game in a loan spell at Burnley earlier this season, could make his first start for County after joining them following his release by Bradford City.

County will choose from: Ward, Finnan, Pearce, Mitchell, Baraclough, Richardson, Robinson, Robson, Derry, Jones, Farrell, Kiwomya, Hendon, Martindale, Jackson.

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