FULHAM manager Lawrie Sanchez could be on the verge of upping his offer for Burnley striker Kyle Lafferty.

The Clarets turned down a pre-season approach by the Premier League outfit, believed to be in the region of £2million, denying former Northern Ireland manager Sanchez the chance to reacquaint himself with the player he launched onto the international scene last summer.

But Fulham's attacking options have been depleted with injuries to Brian McBride and Hameur Bouazza.

McBride was stretchered off after 20 minutes after suffering a dislocated knee while scoring in their loss to Middlesbrough on Saturday, while fellow front man Bouazza accompanied him in the same ambulance to hospital with a dislocated shoulder.

American centre forward McBride is expected to be sidelined for three months and Bouazza's recovery is likely to take one month, leaving Sanchez with strikers Diomansy Kamara, Collins John and Lafferty's Northern Ireland team-mate David Healy at his disposal.

However, as Burnley have yet to receive a fresh offer from the Cottagers, the reports may, for the moment, be merely a reaction to Fulham's untimely injuries.

After Sanchez made his initial enquiry about Lafferty, Burnley manager Steve Cotterill said the 19-year-old, who is contracted to the Clarets until 2010, was happy at Turf Moor, adding: "Unless anything comes that absolutely knocks down our door we haven't got to sell him.

"He's not quite ready yet. If you're selling at the moment you're selling potential, so people only want to buy potential.

"If Kyle isn't going to stay here, for the foreseeable future in his career, we'd rather sell him in a couple of years for double, triple, quadruple the offers that have been banded about out there.

"We've just seen David Nugent, who's gone for £6million, who's three years older than Kyle - admittedly he's been on the scene for a couple of years - but let's see how Kyle goes. He's only 19.""

It is only a matter of months since Sanchez declared that Enniskillen-born Lafferty was right to continue learning his trade at Burnley.

The Clarets turned down a £500,000 offer from Scottish Premier League champions Celtic in the January transfer window and Sanchez, who was still in charge of Northern Ireland manager at the time, said: "Celtic made a decent bid for him but sometimes it is better for a younger player to stay where he is.

"The manager knows him and has brought him through.

"I have no doubt that longer term Kyle will play at the top level.

"He is still a very young man and the best thing is to stay at a smaller club.

"Kyle is still learning his trade. He has done very well when he has played for us."

TICKETS are now on sale from the ticket office for Burnley's Carling Cup second round tie at home to Oldham Athletic on August 28 (kick-off 7.45pm).

Supporters should note that due to the fixture being played so soon after the first round ties it is impractical to reserve season ticket holders' seats and therefore all seats will be sold on a first come first served basis.

The following areas of the ground will be opened: Bob Lord Stand, Jimmy McIlroy Upper Tier, James Hargreaves Lower Tier and David Fishwick Stand for visitors.

The Jimmy McIlroy Lower Tier and the James Hargreaves Upper Tier will be close for this fixture.

Ticket prices for all areas are £10 for adults, £5 for concessions (under 16 and over 65) and £1 for under 16s when purchased with an adult ticket (maximum two juveniles per adult ticket purchased).

The £1 ticket offer is only available in advance and available to home and away supporters through their respective ticket offices.

Admission prices on the night will be £10 adults and £5 concessions (under 16/over 65).

Due to the special promotion, tickets will not be available through web sales. However, these tickets can be ordered by telephone or by person in the ticket office.