Thursday 18 December 2014 17:29, UK
Burnley striker Sam Vokes is inching ever closer to a return to action, but the 25-year-old will have to fight for his place with the rising form of team-mate Ashley Barnes.
Vokes has been sidelined since March after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee against Leicester. Prior to his injury, his 47-goal partnership with Danny Ings was a crucial component of the Clarets’ matchday calculations.
The 25-year-old was also pivotal in securing Burnley’s promotion to the Premier League with 21 goals last season.
However, in the Wales international’s absence, Barnes has developed the habit of scoring important winners, most recently finding the net against Southampton to move the east Lancashire club out of the bottom three.
Manager Sean Dyche said Vokes was “right at the end of his transition back into the main first-team squad” but admitted Barnes’ form would create a selection headache.
"That's a dilemma any manager wants," Dyche said. "A lot was made about the financial side but we wanted a group that was demanding of each other with real true competition. I feel we've definitely got that.
"Where it can take us, we'll see. But we like the demand that's in the group and Vokesy will only add to that."
Vokes has played two full development squad games in recent weeks and has another pencilled in on Monday against Blackpool.
"He's had eight-and-a-half months out and we've got to be mindful of that when you're talking about true fitness and true ability to play in the first team," said Dyche.
"He's going well, he's feeling good and we're really happy with that at this stage. He's getting closer."
