DEAN Marney is set for a return to the Clarets side next weekend after narrowly missing out on Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to West Ham.
While Danny Ings and David Jones returned to face the Hammers after spells on the sidelines, Marney was deemed not quite fit enough to be involved.
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The former Hull City midfielder hasn’t featured since the 0-0 draw with Sunderland on September 20 because of a hamstring injury, missing games against West Brom, Leicester and West Ham.
But boss Sean Dyche revealed that the 30-year-old is likely to be in contention when Everton visit Turf Moor on Sunday.
“I was pleased with the injuries, coming through that,” said Dyche.
“We had to make a judgment call on Dean Marney; if he gets a good week in him, we think he’ll be back for selection.
“You have to be really careful with hamstrings, and we thought he wasn’t ready, while Ingsy had trained well all week and looked nice and sharp.”
Ings was making his first appearance since injuring his hamstring late in the first half of the 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace on September 13.
The England U21s striker had missed the last four games, but he showed no ill effects from the injury, lasting 83 minutes on Saturday before being withdrawn as a precaution.
Jones was also back in the team for the first time since injuring his thigh late on in the Sunderland game, and he played the full game against the Hammers, while Ings’ fellow Under 21 international Nathaniel Chalobah came off the bench for the final seven minutes after recovering from a freak throat injury sustained playing for Burnley’s youngsters in September.
Scott Arfield continued to deputise in central midfield for Marney against West Ham, with Michael Kightly playing out wide.
The former Huddersfield man completed the full game despite being sick on the pitch in the early stages of the second half. Dyche put that down to Arfield feeling a little unwell and, with eight days between the West Ham and Everton games, he should be fine for the visit of the Toffees.
Although whether he plays in central midfield, or moves back out wide, is likely to depend on whether Marney returns to the starting line-up.
“He (Arfield) felt a bit unwell at half time but I think it was just a reaction thing,” said Dyche. “I don’t think it was any deep-seated illness.
“He just felt a bit off.”
Matt Taylor, left, underwent an operation on his Achilles yesterday.
The midfielder has not played for the Clarets since the 0-0 draw with Manchester United at Turf Moor on August 30.
It was decided that he required surgery after the injury failed to clear.
But Taylor tweeted last night: “Operation was a success.”
Michael Keane missed out against West Ham after injuring his hamstring while playing for England U21s in the Euro 2015 play-off against Croatia, and he will continue to be assessed at Gawthorpe this week.
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