NEW signing Ade Akinbiyi was among Burnley's players kicking their heels in frustration at Saturday's postponed FA Cup tie at Reading.

The £750,000 striker was poised to make his second Clarets debut after being selected in the starting line-up by manager Steve Cotterill.

Akinbiyi, who made the switch back to Turf Moor from Sheffield United on New Year's Day, was set to partner Gifton Noel-Williams in attack.

Other changes in the Burnley line-up saw John McGreal return to the starting XI, with Michael Duff banned after collecting five yellow cards, and teenager Chris McCann on the bench.

"They all wanted to play, not just Ade Akinbiyi," explained Cotterill.

"Ade would have been part of the rest of the team. They all wanted the game to be played.

"Ade has not played a lot of football this year and we haven't played any football this year.

"We wanted to play the game - we didn't want to delay it until the replay date.

"Steve Coppell wanted to play the game and I'm sure his lads did too."

Referee Rob Styles called off the tie due to water-logging just 10 minutes before kick-off.

Cotterill added: "We said we were happy to wait around for a delayed kick-off and if the rain ceased it might drain away and we could have been okay.

"But the weather forecast the referee was given said it was heavy rain until half-time."

Reading had made nine changes to the side that thrashed West Ham 6-0 a week last Saturday in the Premiership.

Only centre-back Ivar Ingimarsson and striker Leroy Lita held starting places following their destruction of the Hammers.

Royals boss Coppell said he is likely to name a similar side for the re-arranged tie, with minimal changes expected.

"Not a great deal will change," said Coppell.

"The side won't be too far away from the one we selected. But there might be one or two first teamers back."

With the Royals making wholesale changes, Burnley could see this as an ideal opportunity to cause an FA Cup third round shock.

Reading's Premiership rivals Sheffield United were dumped out of the competition by League One outfit Swansea City after making a raft of changes.

The weakened Blades went down 3-0 at Bramall Lane.

Meanwhile, fears that Reading's pitch would be left in a poor state for tomorrow night due to a Guinness Premiership rugby match were eased.

London Irish, who groundshare the Madejski Stadium, saw yesterday's fixture with Saracens also called off due to an unplayable surface.

But Coppell was concerned at the damage that may have been done to the turf had the match gone ahead.

"You don't need a tremendous surface to play rugby," said Coppell.

"But you do need a fairly flat pitch, hopefully with a bit of grass on it, to play football."

Saturday's sides: Burnley: Jensen, Thomas, Harley, McGreal, Foster, O'Connor J, Hyde, Jones, Noel-Williams, Akinbiyi, Elliott. Subs: Mahon, O'Connor G, McCann, Lafferty, Spicer.

Reading: Federici, De La Cruz, Golbourne, Ingimarsson, Sodje, Seol, Bikey, Oster, Convey, Lita, Long. Subs: Hahnemann, Hunt, Kitson, Harper, Pearce.