Midfielder Arfield is a doubt for visit of West Ham

The 24-year-old sat out Saturday’s 2-0 win against QPR with a groin problem picked up in training on Friday, having started the previous nine league games.

Boss Sean Dyche will also check on Dean Marney, who picked up an unspecified niggle on Saturday, being replaced by David Edgar with seven minutes remaining.

And his central midfield partner David Jones is definitely out of tonight’s game, having picked up his fifth booking of the season against QPR.

Dyche said of Arfield: “He got a niggle on Friday so we had to leave it.

“But yet again there were good signs of the squad mentality with Keith Treacy coming in and delivering a very good performance.

“That bodes well, even though we haven’t got massive numbers, but they’re all ready and raring to go and he showed that.

“One loss is another one’s gain and that’s how I look at it.”

Asked if Arfield had a chance of facing West Ham, he added: “He’s touch and go, I’m not thinking so with a minor strain.”

And of Marney, he said: “Dean Marney’s had to come off. We don’t think it’s a serious one but it was serious enough for him to come off and he’s a very honest player.

“We’ll let it settle down and take it from there.”

Dyche remains on the hunt for loan players to bolster his table-topping squad: “We’re still looking, the search never stops.

“But it’s about aligning the right player, at the right time, right circumstances and finances.

“We’re keen to make signings regardless of the time, with the window closing this month.

“We won’t just take someone for the sake of it though.”