Payts is back

Last updated : 19 February 2002 By Tony Scholes

It is West Brom who have called the game off and this is because they are playing in the reserve team league cup competition. This is a competition, which of course provides extra games, that the Clarets choose not to enter. This is the third time in four seasons that we haven't shown it any interest. The one exception was 1999/2000 when we didn't do particularly well.

The West Brom game has now been re-scheduled for two weeks time on 6th March and this now means that the reserves will play, either at home or away, every Wednesday until 10th April. In addition to that there is still one game against Barnsley at home to be rearranged after it fell victim to a waterlogged pitch at the end of last month.

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The behind closed doors friendly tomorrow will give Stan the chance to keep players fit and will give Mitchell Thomas another game. Not only that Andy Payton will get a game as he returns after picking up a bad injury in the reserve team game against Tranmere on 9th January. Given that the goals are not exactly flying in at the moment in the first team the return of Andy Payton will be a massive boost.

It is no surprise that Steve Davis won't be taking part. He has stepped up his training this week but it was only yesterday that Stan said he could join in full training on Thursday or Friday. It does though mean he is on his way back and given Stan's comments about Coxy and Arthur on Saturday it shouldn't be too long before he is claiming back his first team place.