Burnley manager Scott Parker faced the media on Thursday with a stark update on his squad’s fitness ahead of their clash against Leeds United. The news was mixed, with one or two potentially positive signals amid several long-term issues.
On Zeki Amdouni, Parker admitted the Swiss forward is still some way off.
“He’s some time away. He’s coming back from a longer-term injury, so he’s going to be a little while away. He’s a few months after surgery now and he’s moving in the right direction, but he’ll be some time,” the manager told press.
Jordan Beyer’s situation is also frustrating, though slightly less severe.
“Jordan had a little bit of a setback with his hamstring, so not too long, but again, he’s probably not in contention in the mix for the foreseeable.”
The news on Lyle Foster, however, was more promising. Parker described it as “probably better news than we initially thought.” He revealed the injury appears to be a dead leg, not a structural issue, and said Foster travelled back earlier that day.
“We’re hoping that he’ll be fine for the weekend. We’ll have to see when he comes in … and manage it.”
Sadly, Connor Roberts won’t share Foster’s luck. Parker admitted Roberts has had a relapse.
“He’s had a little bit of a setback, so he will be a little bit longer now. We’re probably looking at a few months, which is not ideal. It’s a big setback for us, but he’ll come out the other end of that.”
Taken together, the injury burden is significant. Parker acknowledged the challenge.
“This is part and parcel of professional sport … In an ideal world, you want everyone fit, but that’s not the reality. So that’s why we’ve got a squad … people fill in in those positions.”
Burnley fans and analysts will now closely watch who can step up in the upcoming weeks. The depth of the squad will be tested, and Parker’s rotations may become crucial if these absences drag on.
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