BURNLEY have taken the option on Steven Defour’s contract to keep the midfielder at Turf Moor until the summer of 2020.
The 30-year-old signed a three-year deal when he arrived at the club in August 2016, but his stay has now been extended by a further year.
Defour returned to Burnley last week after undergoing rehabilitation from a calf injury in Belgium. Before returning he did an interview in the Belgian press, which when translated suggested his contract may have been up this summer and he could have been free to speak to other clubs.
But Sean Dyche has confirmed that the club took the option on Defour’s contract in the summer.
“He already signed in the summer,” the Clarets chief said.” He has two years now. He re-signed in the summer. He’s staying for another two years until 2020.”
Defour has been in full training with Burnley during the international break and could return to action for the Under-23s next week.
But Robbie Brady is now behind the midfielder in terms of a return to action after suffering a disrupted training programme.
“Steven is doing really well, he’s been fit for a week and training with us every day,” Dyche said.
“He’s looking and feeling well, he’ll start a games programme next week, he’ll need a couple of games to build into it and build into a 90 mins. He’s midway through a pre-season really.
“Robbie is back on the grass but only a couple of days in, he’ll maybe start his games programme slightly behind Steven.”
Burnley have suffered a fresh injury setback though with Ben Gibson to see a specialist over a groin injury.
But Johann Berg Gudmundsson is fit again after a hamstring problem and could return against Wolves on Sunday.
“Ben has got to see a specialist about a groin ache and pain. We'll find out more on that one,” Dyche said.
“Johann is clear, so that’s good.”
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