Clarets Hoping For Covid All-Clear

The Clarets hope to have their midfield engine room back firing when they look to slow Manchester United’s title challenge.

Ashley Westwood and Josh Brownhill were among of handful of players who missed last Saturday’s FA Cup win over MK Dons.

Jack Cork made a welcome return from injury alongside Dale Stephens, who came through 120 minutes and scored one of the penalties that helped knock out the League One side.

But manager Sean Dyche looks likely to have increased midfield options open to him against United at Turf Moor on Tuesday night with Westwood and Brownhill – who have started every game bar one together in the Premier League this season – among a quartet of players on their way back.

“There have been a couple of Covids in there and a couple of precautions by the guidelines as well, so we will have to wait if they are available, but we are very hopeful,” said Dyche, whose side faces half-a-dozen games before the end of the month.

“They have been tested again and the timescale fits in.

“We’ve followed all the protocols, so hopefully people will be available.

“You’ve got to be careful they are ready to play, without affecting the competitive elements of the games, of course.

“But our lads are pretty fit, historically, so we’re pretty sure once we check them out they recover well and will be ready and raring.”

As well as a welcome return for the first time this season for Cork, Johann Berg Gudmundsson and goalscorer Matej Vydra also made successful comebacks against the Dons as Burnley booked their place in tonight’s draws for the fourth and fifth rounds of the Cup.

Goalkeeper Nick Pope, who sat on the bench for the shoot-out win, will be fit to start but the Clarets will check on the quartet of Dwight McNeil, Charlie Taylor, Jay Rodriguez and Kevin Long as they look to extend their unbeaten home run to six games and end United’s 10-match undefeated run in the Premier League.