Promising news on injury front for Burnley boss Sean Dyche, amid coronavirus cases

But he has promising news on the injury front, with a couple of players back in contention, and three more not far from a return.

Dyche expects Burnley to fulfil the FA Cup tie with MK Dons on Saturday, after news of a “couple of cases” or coronavirus in the camp, saying: “I know the general rule of thumb is getting 14 players out there to be active.

“We would like to fulfil that, and at this stage I think we will be fulfilling that.

”It might not be the 14 you always expect to see but I think we can go beyond 14, certainly today.

”We will certainly be fulfilling the right team to go on and take on MK Dons as I sit here today.”

But the United game comes quickly on the back of the cup tie, on Tuesday night at Turf Moor, and there could be similar problems in terms of availability: “We are certainly looking at this week's game, we are affected already and we have to look at the knock-on to do the right things with the people who are around that player at any given time.

”It is probable that it affects the next two games, we get tested on Friday, but it is probable it will have an affect on us.”

Whether the United game could be postponed, as was Sunday’s clash at home to Fulham, after a spate of coronavirus cases in the Cottagers’ camp, remains to be seen.

Dyche, however, is encouraged by a handful of key players returning to fitness.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Jack Cork and Matej Vydra could feature against the Dons, as he explained: “Johann is making progress and has been training.

”He looks a lot better and has had a couple of reserve games and is in contention at the moment.

”And Corky is in the group and is and around the thinking, as is Matej (Vydra).”

Likely to miss out, but potentially in with a chance of facing United, are Dwight McNeil, Charlie Taylor and Jay Rodriguez: “Dwight, Charlie and Jay Rod are ones we will have to make a judgement call on.”