SCOTT Arfield believes Sam Vokes is ready to start scoring regularly for Burnley again - as the Clarets striker was recalled to the Wales squad yesterday.
Vokes made the first Premier League start of his career in the weekend victory over Manchester City, as he continues his comeback following knee surgery at the end of last season.
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The 25-year-old has done enough to go straight back into the Wales squad for a Euro 2016 qualifier in Israel on March 28.
Vokes has netted once since returning to the first team as a late substitute against Liverpool on Boxing Day, scoring in the FA Cup clash with Tottenham at Turf Moor.
But Arfield thinks that, now Vokes is back in the starting line-up, the forward will start to find the goalscoring form that saw him net 22 times last season.
Vokes formed a formidable 47-goal partnership with Danny Ings on the way to promotion.
Arfield said: “That partnership was back on fire and it’s only a matter of time before the big man gets back in on the goals as well.
“You could hear the fans on Saturday, they were buzzing, and I think it was partly due to big Vokesy coming back.”
Vokes has had to wait for his Wales return, with Chris Coleman’s side having a four-month break since their last match in November.
But the Wales boss believes Vokes is ready - even if playing the full match in Haifa might be a big ask.
“Sam’s probably not ready to start and do a full 90 minutes, I don’t think so,” he said.
“It’s going to take time because after an injury like that it doesn’t just happen overnight.
“He needs to trust himself and trust his injury.
“It’s great to have him back.”
Arfield’s focus meanwhile is on survival with Burnley, as the Clarets prepare to make the trip to Southampton on Saturday.
It is the latest in a run of eight consecutive games against teams in the top half of the Premier League table.
“There was a lot made of this run and we weren’t given much of a chance of getting any points,” said Arfield.
“But we’ve beaten the champions. It’s all about us now and we’ll look ahead to our next game at Southampton.”
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