They were eased back into action with 45-minute outings in a private friendly against Bradford at Middlewood yesterday - a 2-0 win for the Owls.

Steve Watson too had half a game, as did Etienne Esajas and Akpo Sodje to sharpen their match fitness in advance of the League kick-off.

Watson has missed only last week's friendly against Chesterfield and last Saturday's match against Wigan so will be in contention for the Burnley game, along with Esajas and Sodje.

But Brian Laws is more likely to hand Jeffers and Smith some part of next Tuesday's Hillsborough clash with Rotherham.

The goals against Bradford were scored by youngsters Rocky Lekaj and Charlie Tunnard.

Laws said: "First we'll have to wait and see if they (Jeffers and Smith] feel any reaction.

"It's good to see Franny back playing after he's been out for six months; it could be a bit too early to push him straight back into the team.

"If everything goes according to plan, we might have a look at him in the Rotherham game. Jimmy Smith has been out for three weeks and we might have a look at him in next week's game as well.

"Steve Watson has missed only a small period - he's got more chance of being involved on Saturday."

Burnley are in talks with Latvian club Olimps Riga over winger Aleksandrs Solovjovs, who has been targeted as the Turf Moor club's seventh signing of the summer. Riga are believed to be wanting around £400,000 for him. Former Owls winger Chris Eagles is among the Clarets' other new arrivals.

With Geoff Sheard's Wednesday takeover bid possibly in its final stages, fan group Wednesdayite tonight ballot on his offer for their shares.

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