CHRIS Brass is ready to bide his time for a first-team recall at Turf Moor.

But, when it comes, he aims to make sure it's for keeps.

Brass re-established himself as a key member of the Clarets defence as he helped Burnley beat the drop last season.

However, his run in the side came to an end when a pre-season hernia operation kept him out of the first few fixtures of the current campaign.

"I had kept myself fit over the summer and was feeling quite sharp. So for this to happen was a bit of a blow to say the least," admitted Brass, who has seen Mitchell Thomas arrive and slot into the centre of the Burnley back-line.

"There have been a few good additions to the squad which makes for that bit extra competition which is healthy," he added.

"And I can't grumble. The side has made a good start in the league so it's just a matter of getting my fitness back and biding my time. It's just nice to be involved again in the first-team squad.

"I just need to get games under my belt to get my match-fitness and put myself in contention. Then, when I do get back in, try and make it so the manager can't leave me out.

"I can't have any complaints. In the league our form has continued from last season and, if we got the right result against Stoke today and then at Bristol on Monday, we'll be top of the league and a few people will be worrying about us." Brass's hernia operation was the fifth bout of surgery he has undergone in just over two years, having previously managed to steer clear of the treatment table.

"They have all come in quick succession, but I have been lucky in that I have managed to come back quickly so you don't really lose your fitness," said the former skipper, who took an important step along the comeback trail with a 90-minute mid-week outing against Manchester City in the Worthington Cup.

He was likely to revert to the bench again for today's visit of Stoke City but ackowledged that as part-and-parcel of the modern game.

"Everbody in football has to realise it's a squad game, even at our level, because you've got five on the bench and I think you need a squad of 20-22 players where no-one would raise an eyebrow if any of them were in the first-team.

"Injuries and suspensions will take their toll and, when I'm given the opportunity, I've got to take it," he added.

Ternent was keeping his fingers crossed that the Clarets would come through today's game unscathed before travelling down to the West country to tackle in-form Bristol Rovers.

Rovers, who were at Wrexham today, have made an excellent start to the season, matching Burnley point-for-point and also progressing in the Worthington Cup at the expense of Luton.

Darren Roberts has scored five goals in five games and Jamie Cureton, last season's Second Division Golden Boot winner, got off the mark against Luton on Tuesday night. However, their flying start has hit manager Ian Holloway in the pocket.

Holloway promised to buy the drinks following each clean sheet. And his players responded by producing a club record four straight shut-outs at the start of the campaign.

With the boss also agreeing to foot the £40 bar bill if Rovers beat Luton in the cup, he has had shelled out £200 already, although he's sure to think of it as money well spent.

The Pirates will be without summer signing Ronnie Maugee through suspension and his place on Monday could go to 16-year-old Simon Bryant, who will become the second youngest player ever to appear for the club.

Burnley from: Crichton, West, Cowan, Smith, Mellon, Thomas, Armstrong, Cook, Payton, Johnrose, Little, Jepson, Branch, Brass, Mullin, Grant, Davis.

Bristol Rovers from: Jones, Pethick, Foster, Tillson, Thomson, Challis, Hillier, Bryant, Pritchard, Roberts, Cureton, Bennett, Kuypers, Leoni, Andreasson, Ellington.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.