Turf Titbits

Clarets International

Three of our players were on International duty yesterday.

Graham Alexander was in the starting eleven for Scotland at right back in their match against Holland in the Amsterdam Arena. This World Cup qualifier though would prove too much for the Scots with Holland winning convincingly 3-0 thanks to goals from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Robin van Persie and Dirk Kuyt. Alexander was eventually substituted by Spurs defender, Alan Hutton with 17 minutes of normal time still to play. Nevertheless this was another cap for Grezza and he now has 38 caps in total for Scotland.

The Scotland Under 21 side were also in action yesterday in a UEFA Under-21 Championship Qualifying match and Kevin McDonald was in the side that beat Albania U21 1-0 in Elbasan thanks to a late winner by Chris Maguire from the penalty spot.

Bes Berisha currently on loan to Danish side AC Horsens was also in the Albanian side beaten 1-0 by Hungary in Tirana in their FIFA World Cup European Qualifying match.

Berisha now has 13 caps in total and yesterday was only the second time he had been in the starting eleven since recovering from injury

Quiet on the Loan Front

The loan window closed on Thursday last week and there would be no last minute signing for the Clarets. All the action has been the other way with Adam Kay joining Accrington on loan and Alan Mahon taking the sea air in Blackpool.This took our players out on loan tally to six with Mahon & Kay joining Kiraly, Jones, Berisha and van der Schaaf.

Clarets fans might also be interested in a number of former players that found themselves playing for new clubs on loan.

Here is the full list:

Frank Sinclair- Lincoln to Wycombe Wanderers (Anybody see his debut for Wycombe at home against Shrewsbury on Sky Sports yesterday?)

Glen Little-Portsmouth to Reading

Gareth Taylor-Doncaster Rovers to Carlisle

Marc Pugh-Shrewsbury to Hereford

Neal Trotman-Preston to Colchester

Owen the Striker

It is now quite obvious why we didn't bring in any loans to cover for the injuries to Martin Paterson and Steven Thompson. We can always bring on Owen Coyle! Well he still has what it takes after his antics in the Masters Football tournament at the Liverpool Echo Arena this week.

The Clarets gaffer donned his football boots for the All-Ireland team and scored a brace against the England Masters side in their 3-1 win.

In the next game against Scotland he scored again in a 4-1 victory before the All-Ireland team took their 3rd home nations title in this competition by defeating Wales 2-1 in the final.

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