CLARETS legend Andy Payton believes it is vital Burnley boss Owen Coyle gives the club's local young stars a chance to shine.

Coyle has intimated that diminutive striker Alex MacDonald may grab a place in today's squad to face Cardiff in the last Championship clash of the season at Turf Moor.

There may also be an opportunity for another forward, Burnley-born Jay Rodriguez, who has scored three goals in nine starts during his loan period at Stirling Albion.

His spell ends after the Scottish First Division side's game at Clyde today, making the 18-year-old available for Burnley's final-day clash at Crystal Palace next Sunday.

Both youngsters have local roots, with Rodriguez a former student at Burnley's Barden High School, while MacDonald comes from Warrington.

And Payton believes that if the teenagers are given a first-team platform, they will get nothing but 100 per cent support from Clarets fans.

The former striker came through Burnley's ranks himself, but was released without making a first-team appearance, before returning to Turf Moor later in his career.

"I know the crowd would absolutely love to see them play," said Padiham-born Payton. "If MacDonald gets on the pitch against Cardiff, he will get non-stop support, especially at Turf Moor.

"That's one thing you can be guaranteed of Burnley fans - they will get behind their local boys.

"I've said for a while that we need more local youngsters coming through.

"If you take a 50-mile radius around Turf Moor, I can't think of too many kids over the last 20 years that have progressed into the first-team, except for John Mullin and Richard Chaplow."

And with little but pride riding on the Clarets' last two games, Payton believes the time is right for Coyle to put his faith in the up-and-coming duo.

"I would love to see them being given a chance," he added.

"It's good to hear that a couple of local lads are on the verge of things - but I'd prefer to see them out there.

"So far, Owen seems to have been a bit tentative with the young players.

"He sent Jay Rodriguez on loan to Stirling - and he's scored a few goals there - but I'd have liked to have seen him given a chance at Burnley.

"If they're promising enough, you want to see young players thrown into the first-team to see how good they are and whether they can handle it.

"Now is the ideal time to throw them in because we've two games left with nothing to play for."

Coyle has carefully monitored the progress of Rodriguez during his loan spell north of the border.

He watched the striker score in Stirling's 3-1 midweek win against St Johnstone, and has seen enough qualities in the teenager to predict a bright future.

But the Clarets boss is also remaining cautious, insisting he won't put any added pressure on Rodriguez because of his birthplace.

"Jay's very graceful on the eye and has got terrific movement," said Coyle. "I think he's a goalscorer, and they're worth their weight in gold.

"There are certainly things we can make him better at, and we have been doing that. He's improving all the time.

"The fact he's a local lad is even better, but it's important supporters see young players coming through.

"But with Jay being local, you wouldn't want that to be an extra burden.

"Sometimes that's happened at clubs I've been at before.

"But we'll bring him on, treat him the same as everyone else, and make sure we get the best out of him."