Joint record signing Ben Gibson won't be recalled amid injury crisis - Burnley boss Sean Dyche

Gibson, who cost £15m from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2018, was given permission to train with Boro in February, after the Clarets turned down three offers from Watford before the winter transfer deadline.

Gibson has made only six appearances for Burnley, starting only one Premier League game, but while Dyche is likely to be without skipper Ben Mee, Jack Cork, Ashley Barnes and Matt Lowton for the last five games of the season, the 27-year-old will remain on Teesside until his situation is assessed in the close season.

Burnley only have two fit senior centre backs in stand in skipper James Tarkowski and Kevin Long, but Charlie Taylor could play there in an emergency, and Jimmy Dunne and Bobby Thomas - both centre halves - have been on the bench since the restart.

Dyche said on Gibson: "His situation hasn't changed really.

"The only thing that has changed is the Covid situation, which means it has been pushed back.

"We were always going to re-evaluate in the summer, so we will re-evaulate at the end of the season."

It remains to be seen whether Gibson will feature again for Burnley, with the possibility of a swap deal with Clarets target Dael Fry, although much could depend on whether Boro avoid relegation to League 1.

Dyche updated the injury situation: "Unfortunately, I think Ben Mee and Corky are going to be out for a bit now, I don't think they're going to get back quickly.

"I don't know if they'll miss all the games, I think Corky probably will, Ben maybe has a chance, but it's one of those unfortunate things.

"But it could have come at a time when we weren't in the shape we are in. We're at 46 points, and we've achieved that with these challenges.

"If they had come before we had our good run, things could have been different, so we don't want to cry it in too much, these injuries have come at at time when we have good points on the table."

Cork is likely to undergo minor surgery on his ankle.

Barnes, who is back training on the grass, and Lowton, are also unlikely to be risked, with the season only running for just over another fortnight.

On Lowton, Dyche said: "I doubt it. It is unlikely, it is settling down. He has a chance but I don't think so.

"We will be in that situation as well where it will depend on the when the date is for next season because we are not going to, with the oints we have got, rush people back in for what might be one or two games that would effect next season so we have to be careful with that."