Burnley likely to be without key trio again against Watford - Sean Dyche

The Clarets were without Ashley Barnes, Chris Wood, Johann Berg Gudmundsson and soon to be out of contract Jeff Hendrick, Phil Bardsley, Aaron Lennon and Joe Hart at Manchester City on Monday night.

It looks likely that those whose deals expire at the end of June have played their last games for the club, with today the deadline to extend any deals to the end of the campaign.

And Dyche, who could only name seven of nine allocated substitutes - having to use two goalkeepers and three outfield players yet to appear for the first team, said: "We've got everything out tonight that we've got - the only other one who was close was Mace Goodridge, who is just training.

"Barnesy is injured, Woody, Johann, Robbie Brady got a tight groin yesterday, we had it checked out and scanned and there is a minor tear in his abductor.

"It's not major, not drastically serious, but enough to keep him out tonight.

"For Thursday, certainly not Johann, Barnesy or Woody - Barnesy is probably the longer-term one, we're waiting on Woody and Johann, they are making good progress, out on the grass with the physios and sports scientists, but not back with the team yet."

Burnley's plight isn't helped that they are unable to call on any of the Under 23s who ended the season out on loan - Anthony Glennon, Josh Benson, Scott Wilson, Oliver Younger, Jordan Cropper, Ryan Cooney, Adam Phillips, Christian N’Guessan, Tunde Bayode and Rob Harker.

There is a suggestion they could be fielded in 'exceptional circumstances' such as selection issues caused by illness or injury, but Dyche said, when asked if there is special dispensation: "Not that we know of so far, we have had four or five out on loan.

"It's difficult, but young Max (Thompson) has got some minutes in the Premier League, so for all the challenges we have, it does bring these opportunities for the youngsters.

"You'd like to think they could get more experience before they get to this point, but that's the way it goes at the moment.

"I didn't want that one where you can't fill the bench, even if it's with kids, but we physically can't because we can only test so many people.

"We've tested as many as we can, even to just fill the bench and give these youngsters experience.

"Not the perfect timing with contracts, but we carry on regardless."

Jay Rodriguez was replaced as a precaution in the second half, with the game over as a contest: "We were trying to be as careful as you could. But we can't put players all over the place.

"Max gets a taste of the Premier League which is great for him as a young player. Erik (Pieters) can work on the left hand side and you are probably not going to start putting defenders on and move the team all over the place so we have tried to manage it as best we could and make sure players come though fit and well, and hopefully they have all come through at least intact ready for the next game."