Burnley boss Sean Dyche is hoping the two-week international break will give his injured stars a chances to get back to fitness. The Clarets have had a mixed start to their current campaign and sit in 12th spot in the Premier League with four points, although it could have been a lot better had they got the draw with Arsenal they deserved and not conceded an injury-time Raul Jimenez penalty equaliser against Wolves.
Dyche will use the two-week international break to try and ensure his two injured stars are back to fitness and available for the next action, which comes with a trip to face Brighton on September 14. Clarets duo Robbie Brady and Johann Berg Gudmundsson are currently the only two players on the Turf Moor treatment table and Dyche will be hoping that they use the time to continue to recover from injury.
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And, having added to his squad in the summer, Dyche will be keen for his players who do go off to represent their countries to come through the break unscathed. Republic of Ireland international Brady has a hairline fracture of his rib which he picked up during pre-season and he has yet to feature this term, his last full 90 minutes came in a friendly with Port Vale.
His prognosis is good, though, and he is expected to play for the Under-23 side the next time they are in action – which Dyche hopes will set him on course for a return to the first-team.
Dyche said: “Robbie will get minutes now, he is not going away with Ireland now as he is not ready for that but he will play hopefully two 90 minutes in the break which will bring him back up to speed.”
Meanwhile, 28-year-old winger Gudmundsson came off in the draw with Wolves and sat out the home defeat to Liverpool at the weekend.
He is desperate to be fit to return to the side and said earlier in the season that he cannot afford to be out of the team injured as he would lose his place, such is the strength of the squad.
The Clarets hope to have him back in contention for their visit to the Amex Stadium but Dyche, who is cautiously optimistic on his progress, is making no guarantees. “We are going to have to wait and see on Johan with a niggly calf,” said the boss. “He has not made for the international trip so we don’t know whether he will make it for Brighton.”
