Hot-shot Burns is man in form

By Liam Chronnell

FC United v Bradford Park Avenue

UniBond League Division One North

KARL Marginson has warned Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to watch out - Aaron Burns is after you.

The former Manchester United reserve team striker has hit eight goals in as many games since joining the Rebels from Cardiff.

Burns, who is being followed by a host of top-flight clubs, including Blackburn and Everton, cannot play above UniBond League level until the transfer window opens in January.

The Championship club still hold the player's registration - and if Burns carries on his prolific form then Marginson believes the Bluebirds could be ready to give him a second chance.

"Hasselbaink and Fowler better watch out because Cardiff haven't been scoring," said Marginson.

"What is good about Aaron is he keeps going. Even if he misses an easy chance, he keeps going and, through his brightness, takes the next one.

"We don't know if he'll be with us after January because he wants to play professional football at the highest level he can, but we're just going to enjoy him while we can."

The FC manager will be hoping Burns can fire again against title rivals Bradford Park Avenue at Gigg Lane on Saturday.

The inconsistent Reds, who fell six points behind leaders Curzon Ashton at the weekend, are still smarting from last month's 4-1 thrashing by the Yorkshire outfit in the FA Trophy.

And Marginson wants an immediate response from his players following the 3-0 defeat at Bamber Bridge.

He said: "It's a huge game against one of the best teams in the league on Saturday. We've got to bounce back from last weekend's defeat at Bamber Bridge and the lads need to stand up and be counted."

United's Jekyll and Hyde season continued on Saturday as they went down against the Preston club - a side they thumped 5-0 in the President's Cup just over two weeks ago.

Bridge's ex-England schoolboy international, Ryan Salmon, pounced on goalkeeper Sam Ashton's error to open the scoring on 14 minutes.

Striker Dave Eaton, who once partnered Wayne Rooney up front in the Everton reserves, added a fine second on 51 minutes and Salmon's header wrapped up the points just three minutes later to inflict the Rebels' second defeat in three games.

1:18am November 22, 2007