CHARLIE Austin is still searching for his first goal in Clarets colours after the club’s reserves were kept to a drab draw at Shrewsbury.

The striker got the starting nod in Shropshire after recovering from a virus that kept him out of the Burnley’s FA Cup fifth round defeat to West Ham on Monday.

Austin, who joined the Clarets from Swindon Town in the January transfer window, enjoyed a 75-minute work-out and looked likeliest to break the deadlock in an uninspiring match bereft of clear-cut chances for both teams.

David Edgar also came close, but saw his first-half volley hacked off the line by the home side.

Despite the stalemate, Burnley reserves have maintained their lofty position at the top of the Totesport.com League.

Austin led the attack for the Clarets alongside Dominic Knowles, ahead of a midfield quarter of Michael King, Marvin Bartley, trialist Shaun Williams and Chris Anderson, while Richard Eckersley, Edgar, Nik Kudiersky and Brian Easton made up a strong back four.

Burnley made the early pressing, with Austin trying his luck in the fifth minute but firing wide.

At the other end, goalkeeper Craig Mawson made a smart stop to keep the Shrews at bay.

Striker James Collins weaved past both Easton and Edgar and his shot was destined for the bottom corner until Mawson turned it round the post.

A backtracking Town defender almost put the ball in his own net from Eckersley’s low cross, but it went wide.

From the resulting corner, Edgar’s volley smashed off the goalline.

Burnley had their own escape when Shrewsbury’s Collins skied his shot from just eight yards out.

The second half was a more lifeless affair, with little in the way of goalmouth action, and it wasn’t until 14 minutes before time that Burnley created their first clear-cut opening.

Sub Ross Wilson drilled over a cross from the right wing and Knowles, racing in to meet at the near post, flashed a header just the wrong side of the angle.

Trialist Williams is the current Irish PFA young player of the year but is without a club after Sporting Fingal withdrew from the league because of financial problems earlier this month.

Fingal had rejected a bid from Celtic, thought to be in the region of £70,000, for the 24-year-old in January before the Dublin club’s finances took a turn for the worse.

Celtic remain interested but Burnley took the opportunity to take a look at Williams, with Irish duo Shamrock and Bohemians also keen to sign the ball-playing central midfielder.

Williams previously had a trial with Wolves and, like current Burnley midfielder Chris McCann, came through the ranks at Home Farm.

He has represented the Republic of Ireland at under 23 level as well as impressing for Fingal against Portuguese side Maritimo in the Europa League, although it still remains to be seen whether Clarets boss Eddie Howe will pursue his interest.