Burnley v Barnsley preview

Cole and Varga boost Clarets

Last updated: 28th March 2008

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Burnley will be hoping to get their play-off bid back on track against a Barnsley side that has been dragged back into the Championship relegation battle.

Burnley could have on-loan Sunderland duo Andrew Cole and Stanislav Varga available following injury.

Centre-back Varga missed last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Preston with a foot problem but looks set to replace Clarke Carlisle at the heart of the defence.

Carlisle was sent off at Deepdale and serves the first game of a three-match ban, opening the door for Varga's return.

Cole came on as a second-half substitute against Preston after recovering from a calf strain and could now be handed a starting berth.

Kyle Lafferty scored twice for Northern Ireland in the 4-1 friendly win over Georgia in midweek but was forced off with a thigh injury at half-time.

However, Clarets boss Owen Coyle will hope to have the striker available after failing to bring any new faces to Turf Moor before the loan window closed.

Trio doubtful for Tykes

Barnsley boss Simon Davey is sweating on the fitness of three players for his side's trip to Burnley.

Brian Howard (knee) and Dennis Souza (facial cut) have not trained all week and face a race to be fit for the game at Turf Moor, with fellow forward Kayode Odejayi also a doubt with a sore ankle.

Davey has an otherwise fully-fit squad available and will be looking to improve on their current league position which sees them just two points off a relegation place.

The FA Cup semi-finalists have won just once in their last eight games in the league.