Burnley injury update ahead of midweek Middlesbrough clash

Nicky Hayen has welcomed the return of Josh Cullen to Burnley training following the midfielder’s lengthy absence.

The club captain has been sidelined by an ACL injury since the end of December, but is now closing in on a long-awaited comeback.

The Clarets posted images to their social media pages on Monday of Cullen, as well as Burnley teammate Enock Agyei, making their first steps back onto the training pitch.

Providing an update on when they’re likely to be considered for selection, Hayen said: “They still need a few weeks, of course.

“But for Josh it's already a success to be on the pitch for him. Just on the mental part it was a long run until now, but he is enjoying himself and you see him smiling.

“That's the nicest thing to see that the player comes back on the pitch having that smile, but he comes also with a lot of positive energy so this is important also for the group to see that maybe also this is a spark that we can use.”

Unfortunately it’s not such good news regarding Bashir Humphreys, who is facing two months out with a knee injury.

It comes after the 23-year-old was forced to miss back-to-back games against Bradford City and Norwich City, with further tests not revealing the full extent of the setback.

“So it will be around 8 weeks at least,” Hayen added. “So unfortunately we're just going to see what is the best solution.”

It means Connor Roberts may have to continue filling in at left-back against Middlesbrough tomorrow night, with Lucas Pires still serving his concussion protocol.

The Brazilian was forced to miss out at Carrow Road following an accidental clash of heads in last week’s cup tie at Bradford.

“So it’s 10 to 12 days that we have to follow this procedure,” Hayen explained. “So unfortunately he will not make the squad tomorrow.”

There is better news regarding Oliver Sonne though, after the full-back was absent from Burnley’s squad at Norwich with a knee problem.

“So he is better, he is fit and he will be in the squad,” Hayen said.

“But there’s a little bit of a struggle at the moment, because you have Bash out, you have Lucas out. Yes they will come back, that’s for sure, and you have some incoming transfers, but at the moment we are just doing the things we can do to try and manage them the best.

“But if everyone is fit, we have a really good squad and this is also what we want to show.”

Elsewhere, Jordan Beyer, Jaydon Banel and Ashley Barnes all remain sidelined, while Josh Laurent serves a one-match ban against Boro following his dismissal at the weekend.