Burnley’s injury list clearing up during the break

Ashley BarnesAshley Barnes
Ashley Barnes | jpimedia
Sean Dyche can barely remember when he last had a fully-fit squad.

The irony of the current lockdown, amid the coronavirus pandemic, means Dyche's players are virtually all available, with no games to play!

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It is four weeks now since Burnley's last game - the 1-1 draw with Spurs at Turf Moor.

Since then, the Premier League has been put on hold until at least April 30th, although that date looks certain to be put back, potentially indefinitely.

In that time, Burnley's injury list has receded.

Before professional football was stopped, only Bournemouth, Chelsea and Newcastle had more players out injured than the Clarets in the Premier League.

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Ashley Barnes had an hour in a behind closed doors game in the week before the Spurs game, after recovering from hernia surgery.

But Matt Lowton (knee), Johann Berg Gudmundsson (calf), Jay Rodriguez (knee) and Jack Cork (hamstring) were unlikely to have been fit for the scheduled trip to Manchester City three weeks ago.

However, when the Premier League finally gets the go-ahead to resume, in whatever format is decided, the Clarets boss will have significantly more options to select from: "I'm waiting on more news because there's a bit more detail with some of the injuries than others, but generally speaking, this spell will make sure, or give them an enhanced chance, of being right, so there's that.

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"They can't have the same level of specialist treatment of course, because they've got a down period while they are playing their part as well.

"There are some guidelines where one on one treatment can be available, but Ally (Beattie, head physio) has made the decision to shut them down for this initial period.

"They still have a home plan to work from, and some common sense stuff they can do, but not as much on the actual professional side with the physios.

"These are small complications in the bigger picture, but they still are complications."