MARTIN Paterson may not play again this season, after scans revealed the Burnley striker has re-torn a thigh muscle.

The Northern Ireland international had only just returned from a similar problem that had kept him out for almost three months, but broke down again after coming off the bench in last week’s defeat at Doncaster Rovers.

Early indications are that former Scunthorpe United front man Paterson will spend eight weeks on the sidelines, but manager Eddie Howe feels his latest recovery could take longer.

“Pato unfortunately has had a re-occurrence of his thigh injury, which is a huge blow to us,” said the Burnley boss.

“They’ve said he’ll be out for about eight weeks but the likelihood is that he’s going to struggle to play again this season for us, although we’d like to think we could get him back.

“But there’s obviously a problem in there and we need to make sure we address it and get it right for the lad’s sake and make sure we look after him.

“It’s a slight tear (to his thigh muscle).

“He had done it in two parts before, this time it’s just in one area.

“He did all his rehab spot on, we gave him time to get himself right.

“It’s just one of those things you can’t give a reason for and it’s really unfortunate for him because he’s done really well.

"At Doncaster especially when he came on he looked really sharp.”