BURNLEY boss Steve Cotterill has revealed this week's efforts to bolster his squad have no more than a 50/50 chance of success.

The Clarets look like having depleted numbers again at Watford tomorrow, with three players all doubtful through injury.

And with the August 31 transfer deadline growing ever closer, Cotterill faces an anxious wait to see if any of his enquiries so far come to fruition.

"The majority of the Premiership managers have got back to me and we're just waiting to see what happens with those players," he said.

"But I would say at the moment, as regards people we've enquired about, it's no more than 50/50 - and that depends on whether the players want to come."

On-loan Manchester City striker Karl Bermingham, Cotterill's one success this week, is a welcome addition to the threadbare squad for the trip to Vicarage Road.

However, the Clarets chief added: "The biggest worry we have at the moment is a few of the injuries we've got. We picked up a few injuries last week and we've got three who haven't trained this week who are doubts, so we'll have to assess that nearer the time."

Cotterill has special memories of Watford from last year, where he picked up his first win at Burnley boss almost exactly one year ago thanks to Ian Moore's solitary strike.

And after hitting the buffers on the road towards the end of last season, a similar result tomorrow would be just the tonic Cotterill and his players need to end a run of nine away league games without victory and build on last Saturday's first win of the campaign against Coventry City.

"It would be fantastic if we could go down to Watford and win again," insisted Cotterill, who denied national newspaper reports that Sheffield United have lodged a £1million bid for striker Ade Akinbiyi just months after the striker chose Burnley over the Blades.

"It's a long journey and when you've got these long journeys, you want to make sure you come back with something.

"We started off very well away from home last season and then ended the season not doing very well away at all.

"But we had a forever-revolving door last season, with people in and people out, and you can't have the major disruptions we had without it having a knock-on effect somewhere along the line. There were lots of ups and downs last season and that probably ended up being in our performances."

He added: "Last week was obviously pleasing for everybody at the club and we probably needed that. The players have worked really hard without too many rewards so I am sure they have enjoyed their week, but we've got to try and make sure we enjoy most weeks and Watford are next up.

"Their side has changed around since we last played them, but ours has too so it should be a good game."