Jon Flanagan and Ashley Barnes are both yet to feature in the Premier League this season but Dyche hopes that will change soon.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche has told Clarets Player HD that he hopes to welcome injured duo Jon Flanagan and Ashley Barnes back into the first-team fold in the near future.
Legendary Brazilian right-back Cafu told Liverpool’s official website that Flanagan had “everything required to be one of the best full-backs in the world” upon his breakthrough into the first team in 2014, although a succession of serious injuries have stunted his progress.
As such, the 23-year-old has only featured once for the Clarets after arriving on loan in the summer, a 1-0 defeat to Accrington Stanley in the EFL Cup.
Meanwhile, Barnes (below), who scored five times in Burnley’s last top flight campaign two years ago, has been struggling with a serious knee injury.
However, Dyche is optimistic that there is light at the end of the tunnel for two players who are likely to be key to the Clarets’ survival hopes upon their return.
“[Jon] is getting there. He’s training with the group regularly now so he’s certainly in contention along with a number of others,” the former Watford manager told Clarets Player HD.
“[Ashley] is still struggling a little bit, nothing too serious, but we just can’t get rid of the final bit of the injury so we’re hopeful that settles down sooner rather than later.”
Barnes, in particular, would be a welcome addition to Dyche’s squad over the coming weeks with star striker Andre Gray set to sit out the next four games due to suspension.
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