Turf Titbits

International Clarets on Duty

Some of our players were on International duty in the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers during the break.

Three of our players were involved in some of the action.

Graham Alexander played for Scotland in their 1-0 defeat by Macedonia in Skopje last Saturday. He was in the starting eleven and played the whole 90 minutes

He also came on for Scotland with just 13 minutes to go in their next game against Iceland on Wednesday night. Scotland had been 2-0 up but then Eidur Gudjohnsen made no mistake from the penalty spot after Scots skipper Stephen McManus had been sent off for handball.

Alexander was brought on after the Iceland goal to shore up the defence as 10 men Scotland survived to win 2-1 despite late pressure from Iceland.

Martin Paterson was in the starting eleven for Northern Ireland as they faced Slovakia in Bratislava last Saturday. It was a disappointing game for the Irish though, with the side eventually losing 2-1. Paterson was replaced by West Brom's Chris Brunt after 66 minutes.

On Wednesday night Paterson was another player missing out on a starting eleven place, with gaffer, Nigel Worthington preferring Feeney up front as Northern Ireland faced the Czech Republic at Windsor Park. Paterson got his chance though replacing Feeney after 72 minutes to pick up his third cap since playing for the Clarets. He now has a total of five caps. Northern Ireland though could not find the back of the net and the match finished goalless although they had claimed their first point in the World Cup qualifiers and against the favourites.

Our final player selected by his country was Bes Berisha for Albania. Berisha was given his first taste of International duty since suffering cruciate knee ligament damage while scoring for Albania in a 3-0 win against Malta in August 2007. An injury that saw Berisha sidelined for the whole of last season. It was therefore good on Saturday to see our winger, currently on loan to Norwegian side, Rosenborg, come on for his country against Sweden in Tirana albeit from the bench with just 15 minutes to play. The game finished 0-0.

Bes was again named on the bench on Wednesday night as they faced ironically Malta again. Comfortably 2-0 up with 8 minutes to go,Berisha got his second chance to shine. He was involved in his side's third goal as Albania came out easy winners 3-0.

Theo,Theo but Not A Third Theo

No not the one who scored the hat-trick for England in midweek against Croatia but another Theo! This Theo, one named Theo Fairweather-Johnson was a trialist who played for Burnley Reserves in midweek against Rochdale at the Fraser Eagle Stadium.

Theo Fairweather-Johnson is a 19-year-old right winger who was previously on West Ham United's books. He has also played for non-league sides, Dulwich Hamlet and Fisher Athletic

By coincidence the reserve game also finished 4-1 in favour of the Clarets. Could Theo also get a hat-trick? Well not quite but he did get two of the goals with Remco Van der Schaaf and Steve Jones getting the others.

Pugh, a Mad Hatter

Former Burnley player Marc Pugh has joined Luton Town on a month's loan from Shrewsbury.

Botton club in League 2, Luton looking certain candidates for non-league football next season after the 30 point penalty, are desperate to bolster their team and see Pugh as one man to help.

Pugh joined Shrewsbury from Bury in the summer of 2007 but has struggled to get a regular place in the team. Luton boss Mick Harford said:

'We're delighted to have Marc with us. He's desperate to play regular first team football. He's a winger with terrific pace, and we feel that will be a big asset to us over the next month.'

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