Vokes closes in on return to fitness

It is just over five months ago that Vokes went under the knife for surgery on a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, bringing a premature end to a season where his 21 goals played a huge role in promotion to the Premier League.

Dyche remains unwilling to put a timeframe on the 24-year-old’s return, but he said: “He’s moving well. He’s out on the grass – not with us – but with the sports science side of things. It’s still a longer term situation but he’s going along nicely at the minute.

“When you get on the grass you feel great so he’s enjoying that at the moment. It’s just about making his recovery continue in that fashion.”

Vokes himself is eyeing Wales’ Euro 2016 qualifiers with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprusnext month: “If I’m back playing games I’d love to be involved in them.

“But I’m not going to put pressure on myself to be fit for them.”