Rooney boost for Clarets friendly

Toffees manager David Moyes has promised to bring a full-strength side when they come to Turf Moor on Thursday, July 22.

Cotterill said: "I'm delighted they've agreed to come down and play us. It will be good opposition and a worthwhile game for pre-season.

"It will be their first team, so Rooney could be playing, depending on Euro 2004 and what sort of time he gets off after that."

And this may not be the only summer game with a Premiership side as Cotterill has made enquiries with a number of top flight clubs in a bid to arrange more friendlies.

"There are a lot of balls up in the air at the moment and I'm just waiting for them to come down and see what drops into place," said the Clarets chief, who was due to meet chairman Barry Kilby today to discuss plans for a pre-season trip to Denmark, Austria or Holland.

Meanwhile, out-of-contract defender Dean West has accepted that his Burnley career could be over.

The right back, whose deal with the Clarets expired at the end of last season, is now a target for Third Division side Lincoln City.

West began his career at Sincil Bank as a trainee before signing as a professional in 1991, and he admitted that a return to the Imps would be tempting.

But he hasn't ruled out remaining at a First Division club should he not succeed in earning a new contract at Burnley, as seems likely at this stage.

"I would love to have stayed at Burnley but I haven't been offered a new deal and I can't afford to wait around to find a new club because there are hundreds of players out there who are out of work," the 31-year-old said.

"I've still got a few years left in me as a player and I would like to stay in the First Division if that's possible.

"But if you get the chance to sign for a club these days you've got to take it."

Details of the pre-season friendly with Everton, such as kick-off time and ticket prices, will be confirmed at a later date.