Rodriguez Ready For Reunion

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Striker in contention to face former club as Clarets get back up to speed

2020-10-15T10:12:59.492Z

Rodriguez Ready For Reunion

Striker in contention to face former club as Clarets get back up to speed

2020-10-15T10:12:59.492Z

Clarets look to keep building with positive outcome at Arsenal

Jay Rodriguez should be back to face his former club when the Clarets resume their Premier League campaign at West Bromwich Albion next Monday night.

Rodriguez missed successive league defeats – and a Carabao Cup exit to Manchester City – after picking up an ankle injury in Burnley’s cup win at Millwall last month.

But the striker – who ended a productive two-year stay with West Brom to rejoin the Clarets before the start of last season – is back in training and boss Sean Dyche is optimistic he can return to the squad for the trip to the Hawthorns.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson could also be available to face the Baggies after returning from international duty early following a near-90 minute appearance to help Iceland beat Romania and put themselves one more win away from a place at the delayed finals of Euro 2020.

“As long as the next few days go okay, Jay-Rod should be okay,” said Dyche.

“Johann we’re hopeful on. He had a tight groin when he was away and came back but we’re hopeful that’s settling down so shouldn’t be a major concern.”

Dyche also confirmed that goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell will require a fitness check after a hip problem forced him to withdraw from Northern Ireland’s Nations League loss in Norway during the warm-up on Wednesday night.

And captain Ben Mee is not yet ready to make his first appearance of the season as the defender looks to recover from a muscle tear in his thigh.

“He’s going to need a period to get him back to full fitness. There is better news but he’s not close at the moment,” added Dyche.

Like Mee, Matt Lowton remains side-lined but his working outside with the sports science staff.

And midfielder Jack Cork is a longer-term absentee as he recovers from foot surgery.

But the Republic of Ireland pair of Robbie Brady and Kevin Long, Czech striker Matej Vydra and the England duo of Nick Pope and U21 man Dwight McNeil have seen competitive action during the international break.

And with the rest of the squad putting in the hard yards following a few days off last week, Dyche believes the Premier League hiatus has been a timely one as his side looks to move their campaign into top gear and get their first points on the board.

“It’s worked for us with a Monday game because we’ve had those extra days where we can push the players slightly harder to increase their fitness,” said the Burnley boss, who does not expect to make any further signings before Friday afternoon's domestic transfer deadline involving deals from outside the top tier.

“We can only hope once they’re fit, they stay fit and we’ve got a more balanced squad to look forward to using.

“I try not to make excuses. I still believe in the players we’ve had fit and I still believe in the young players who are supporting the first-team group and learning as they go.

“The performances haven’t been too far away. We need to tidy up at the both ends of the pitch. We know that.

“But I do think those players getting fit again will add that in-house competition and that in-house edge to the group because they’ve got to work for their shirts.”