ANDY Payton is back up and running with a comeback in his sights within the next week.

The Clarets striker missed Burnley's 1-1 draw at Bolton on Saturday with a fractured little toe.

But Payton is on the mend and, if he doesn't return for the visit of Wimbledon on Saturday, looks a good bet to face Hartlepool United in the Worthington Cup first round, first-leg at Turf Moor a week tonight.

Clarets boss Stan Ternent confirmed: "He's making decent progress. The only problem comes when he puts his boot on.

"He's running and doing some training in a trainer with the side cut out but when he puts a boot on it squashes the toe up.

"Obviously he can't play like that but when that settles down we'll know a bit better. It could be this week, it could be next Tuesday."

Other doubts for Saturday are still Lennie Johnrose, Dean West and Chris Brass who missed the Reebok opener.

"I'm unsure if they'll be ready by then," admitted Ternent.