Erik Pieters fit to resume battle for Burnley left back berth with Charlie Taylor ahead of Newcastle United's visit to Turf Moor

Erik Pieters is expected to be fit to face Newcastle United at Turf Moor on Sunday - handing Sean Dyche a nice selection headache.
Erik Pieters was forced off at SouthamptonErik Pieters was forced off at Southampton
Erik Pieters was forced off at Southampton

Pieters was forced off with a hamstring issue shortly after Southampton reduced Burnley's lead to 2-1 at St Mary's on Sunday.

Charlie Taylor who had been out for four weeks, also with a hamstring injury, replaced the former Holland international, as the Clarets went on to lose 3-2.

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But both are fit and available to face the Magpies, with Dyche forced to select between who is accepted by most as the club's first choice left back, in Taylor, and Pieters, who has never let the side down when and wherever he has been asked to play.

Dyche explained: "Erik has trained today, so we're expecting him to be okay."

He also welcomes back Phil Bardsley into the squad after his grandad passed away last week, but Ashley Barnes, Robbie Brady and Kevin Long remain on the casualty list: "We've had that unhappy trend of losing players.

"We're still working to get Barnesy back fit - Bardo had a family bereavement so he'll come back into the thinking, but we're still working on various players to get them fit, Robbie Brady, Kevin Long...

"It's been very frustrating for the players and for myself, it's about trying to break the cycle, and we hope this remaining spell of the season, with games week to week, will help."