Burnley will remain without Scott Twine and Jay Rodriguez for the Championship clash at Watford on Friday night.
The attacking pair missed the weekend draw with Luton through injury and Clarets chief Vincent Kompany doesn’t expect either to return in time for the trip south. Burnley kick off the second tier action with a Sky Sports clash at Vicarage Road and again look set to be without two of their attacking talents. Rodriguez has yet to feature this season while Twine, who came off the bench on the opening day at Huddersfield, was not in the squad for the draw with Luton. Their absence is being keenly felt by Burnley who are light in attack with Ashley Barnes the only fit senior centre forward. Dara Costelloe has been involved while the addition of Manuel Benson provides another option for Kompany.
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Twine is a certain absentee for the trip to the Hornets and Rodriguez is unlikely to be risked even though he should return to training this week. Kompany is keen to ensure the 32-year-old is protected with the Watford trip the first of six games between in 19 days.
“We will see,” said the boss on the prospect of Rodriguez featuring. “He is nearly back in training but the weeks we have coming up, I won’t rush people into the squad and I am extremely careful with that. My priority is to have numbers for a big period of games.”
On Twine, who has been struggling with a knock since arriving and so have a truncated build up to the campaign, Kompany added: “Twiney has had a bit of a setback and we have to manage it. Unfortunately he will be missing for a little bit but hopefully not too long. He would of done something for us in this game (Luton).
“He has struggled a little bit since the beginning of pre-season and I can’t tell you exactly how many games he will be out for but it is not a big one, it is just making sure he is 100 per cent ready before he comes in.”
Twine was at Turf Moor on Saturday to watch the Clarets draw with Luton, alongside Johann Berg Gudmundsson who is not yet fit to start as his fitness is managed following an injury-hit two years. Ashley Westwood was also at the game and he remains a month or two away from a return following his serious ankle injury at West Ham in April.
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