ALAN MOORE is on the verge of completing his permanent move to Turf Moor.

The Republic of Ireland international is ready to put pen to paper on a three year deal after impressing during his switch from Middlesbrough as a free agent.

Delighted Clarets boss Stan Ternent admitted: "We had been tracking Alan for a considerable length of time but had never been able to get him here.

"He had been an established player at Boro but when the club started going out and buying people like Ravanelli, Emerson and Juninho he could not get a game.

"Now we have sorted out a deal and all that needs to be done is to dot a few Is and cross a few Ts."

Moore arrived at Burnley in the summer, initially on a three month trial. Ternent explained: "Rather than sign him right away we thought we would take the chance to look at him and he could have a look at us."

Both parties have liked what they have seen and the contract could be signed as early as today.

The Dublin-born 26-year-old had struggled to break into the first team at the Riverside in recent seasons and his hunger for action has been evident during the Clarets impressive start to the season.

"He is a Premiership player, an Irish international, and we are very happy to have him here," said Ternent. "He is a quality footballer and gives us a nice balance down the left hand side.

"We always want to bring more quality into the squad and Alan has that. He is also very fit, like all the other players. The fitness of our players is something we pride ourselves on."

Moore made his debut for Boro as a teenager nine seasons ago and featured heavily in their promotion to the Premiership in 1995.

He made a number of Premiership appearances over the next couple of seasons but more recently has been troubled by injury problems.

He looked to have recovered well from the calf problem that had been keeping him out of the first-team picture at Middlesbrough and at the end of last season showed a return to form and fitness with six goals in four games in the FA Premier Reserve League.

But Bryan Robson decided to let the Irishman go in one of his last acts as Boro boss, alerting a number of clubs both in England and Scotland to his availability.

Ternent was first to make a move and the Clarets can now celebrate the arrival of a proven player without having to pay a transfer fee.

Moore has already scored a couple of goals, against Wimbledon and Rushden, and he has shown plenty of ability. His competitive streak has also seen him booked five times, including on Tuesday night at Birmingham, and so he will have to serve a suspension.

But Ternent said: "We are building a squad that will be big enough to cope with problems like suspension and injuries."

The manager also suggested there will be more new arrivals, although not necessarily imminently. He said: "Like all clubs we are constantly looking at players ."

Tracking players often involves playing a patient waiting game and the arrival of the talented Moore means that, on this occasion, it is a game that Ternent has won.