Key duo could return for trip to Portsmouth

CLARETS boss Brian Laws expects Chris Eagles and Martin Paterson to be available for the trip to Portsmouth at the weekend.

Burnley travel to Fratton Park to face former boss Steve Cotterill’s Pompey, looking for that elusive first away win.

And Laws’ options look likely to be improved with the return of the duo.

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Eagles missed Saturday’s 2-1 win over Derby County at Turf Moor with a back problem, failing a late fitness test after missing training with the problem all week.

Paterson, meanwhile, has sat out the last three games after picking up a thigh problem before half-time in the 1-1 draw at home to Doncaster Rovers.

Laws, who has Kevin McDonald, Leon Cort, Wes Fletcher, Kevin Long and Richard Eckersley out on loan, drafted in second year professional Alex-Ray Harvey onto the bench on Saturday - reward for his performances in the reserves - but he expects to have more bodies available on the South Coast: “We thought Chris would be involved in the squad on Saturday, but he’d not trained all week, and for Chris to miss that much training is unheard of.

“He’s had an issue with his back, but it cleared up towards the end of the week.

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“However, especially with the cold, it was heightened, and we felt it wasn’t appropriate to risk him.

“But he’ll certainly be ready for Portsmouth.

“Pato was very close as well.

“The players are just there, but not close enough.”

Laws handed a second half debut to on-loan Manchester City striker John Guidetti, the 18-year-old Swede replacing Jay Rodriguez.

Guidetti is with the club, initially, until January 3rd, and he has made a favourable impression already on Laws, in training and with the fleeting touches he got against Derby: “The lad’s got a very bright future with Manchester City, and to blood him in a high tempo game in front of the cameras - he’s not overwhelmed by it at all, you could see he had some real quality touches and he’s no soft touch either.

“We’re delighted to have him on board and it gives me another option because he has got something different.”

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Another loan man, Jack Cork, conjured up the winner against Derby with a delightful near post header - his second goal of the season and third for the club.

It’s no secret that the club would like to make Cork’s move from Chelsea a permanent one, and Laws said: “That’s something we’ll talk about in January, but he’s here for the rest of the season.

“He knows exactly what we want to do and if and when we can do something, we will.

“But he’s with us and we’ll do everything possible to maintain that status for a long time.

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“He’s consistent, and for a boy that age to be consistent in a position where you have to control midfield, I think he’s outstanding.

“He’s got good control, and he’s improving.

“He’s just a nice guy, and a pleasure to work with.”

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