Clarets winger Wallace out for “months”

The Scottish international winger has had a scan, and underwent an operation yesterday which will see him sidelined for “three to four months” according to boss Sean Dyche.

Wallace had started all four games so far this season, having signed a new two-year deal, and Dyche said: “It’s unfortunate for Ross, he came out of pre-season flying, but he had a niggle with his knee last season and we felt we were on top of it.

“It’s just got too sore to continue though, so it was time something was done about it.

“He’s going to have to have an operation, and the specialist will know more when he gets in there, but we’ve had a scan and there’s some details on that that need tidying up.

“It’s certainly going to be weeks, and it could be months, not too many months, but certainly a period of three to four.

“We’re looking at that as something that takes care of itself after he’s had surgery.

“It’s one of the challenges of what we do, the body takes a lot of hammer playing football and sometimes it’s a wear and tear issue, which is what this is.”

Dyche has been in the market for a striker after the sale of Charlie Austin, and now is a wideman short - although Keith Treacy and Scott Arfield, who came on for Wallace and Junior Stanislas to influence the game positively in the 2-0 win over Yeovil on Saturday, could fill the void.

It is an opportunity for someone else, and Dyche admitted: “That’s what football is about, you get a chance and you take it.

“There are other players here looking to go into Ross’ position and deliver performances for us. It is a squad game now, as we mention on several occasions, and it’s important players are fuelled up with that energy to affect a game and have a knowledge of what is going on in the game.

“We’ve made it clear to the subs how important we feel they are, the part they can play at any given time.

“It’s important they’re ready and focused, and they certainly showed that last week against Yeovil.”