MARK Yates could be in line for an early birthday present after answering Burnley's SOS for tonight's FA Cup clash with Liverpool.

Steve Cotterill's first team coach is set to be named as a substitute just one week before celebrating his 35th birthday.

Yates has not made a competitive appearance for the Clarets since featuring in an old Division Two league game against Mansfield Town in January 1993.

But after being named as an unused substitute on six previous occasions this season, most notably against Tottenham Hotspur in the Carling Cup fourth round, Yates again stands by to make his a second Turf Moor debut exactly 12 years down the line.

Injuries to Michael Duff and Graham Branch have hit Burnley hard in the build-up to tonight's mouth-watering third round tie with the Reds.

And with James O'Connor ineligible and Amadou Sanokho severing ties with the Clarets last weekend, that leaves just 16 professional players at Cotterill's disposal.

And the Burnley boss admits he will have no hesitation in calling on Yates if an old head is required.

Cotterill said: "Mark will be pinching himself at being on the bench to face Liverpool. He doesn't want to be sub any more these days because he knows I'm probably not going to put him on.

"But having said that, if there is five minutes to go and I need someone to go on and sit in the box and organise things, while knowing what I want from the touchline, there would be no better man than Mark."

Yates made a total of 13 starts and 25 appearances for Burnley before joining Doncaster Rovers in July 2003 following loan spells at Kidderminster Harriers and Lincoln City.