Burnley v Swansea preview

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Matt Taylor is closing in on a return after making a slow recovery from Achilles surgery but is not yet ready for the matchday squad.

Dean Marney and Kevin Long will both be out until next season after suffering cruciate ligament damage.

Swansea manager Garry Monk also has no new injury concerns for the trip to Burnley.

Monk’s biggest dilemma is whether to revert back to his favoured 4-3-3 formation after switching to a midfield diamond for last week’s 2-1 victory over Manchester United at the Liberty Stadium.

If Monk decides to do that then Ecuador winger Jefferson Montero could be recalled, with Nathan Dyer, who was omitted from the 18-man match-day squad against United, returning to the bench.

Burnley v Swansea preview

admin

Matt Taylor is closing in on a return after making a slow recovery from Achilles surgery but is not yet ready for the matchday squad.

Dean Marney and Kevin Long will both be out until next season after suffering cruciate ligament damage.

Swansea manager Garry Monk also has no new injury concerns for the trip to Burnley.

Monk’s biggest dilemma is whether to revert back to his favoured 4-3-3 formation after switching to a midfield diamond for last week’s 2-1 victory over Manchester United at the Liberty Stadium.

If Monk decides to do that then Ecuador winger Jefferson Montero could be recalled, with Nathan Dyer, who was omitted from the 18-man match-day squad against United, returning to the bench.

Burnley v Swansea preview

admin

Burnley boss Eddie Howe could be boosted by the return of striker Jay Rodriguez.

The England Under-21s international missed Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest due to a hip problem as the Clarets failed to score for the second game running.

However, the 13-goal striker is battling to be passed fit and Howe said: “There is possibly a chance for him.”

Rodriguez’s return would go some way towards easing the blow of losing Marvin Bartley through suspension.

The midfielder was sent off in midweek against Forest and begins a three-match ban after Howe decided against appealing the decision.

Strikers Charlie Austin and Martin Paterson remain sidelined but midfielder Chris McCann is edging closer to a first-team return.

Swansea are not expected to have any new injury concerns as they aim to right the wrongs of three successive away defeats.

Manager Brendan Rodgers kept faith with the same side who claimed a 3-0 win over Norwich last weekend for Tuesday’s disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Hull.

And the City boss, who has a full-strength squad at his disposal, now faces the dilemma of whether to stick or twist at Turf Moor.

Rodgers has plenty of options available in the form of strikers Tamas Priskin, Craig Beattie and Luke Moore as well as midfielders Leon Britton and Darren Pratley.

But if Swans are to remain in the hunt for the second automatic promotion spot then they must end an away hoodoo which has seen them lose at strugglers Preston, Derby and Scunthorpe in their last three matches away from the Liberty Stadium.