Lincoln City defender Deji Elerewe will be available for Saturday's Championship match against Burnley after his red card was rescinded. The club's successful appeal overturns the suspension that would have ruled him out of the fixture at the ProAmpac Stadium.
Elerewe was sent off in the 84th minute of last Saturday's 2-2 draw at Millwall for what was judged to be a denial of a goalscoring opportunity. Lincoln immediately challenged the decision, and the Football Association has now upheld their appeal. The club confirmed the news in a statement, clearing the 20-year-old for selection.
Assistant coach Chris Cohen had indicated after the Millwall match that an appeal was being considered. "We have to look into that and see if it's something we want to pursue," Cohen told reporters. The decision restores a key defensive option for Lincoln, who will still be without the suspended Tom Hamer and Freddie Draper. The club's full injury list remains a concern ahead of the busy schedule.
For Burnley, the news means they will face a Lincoln side with more defensive stability. Vincent Kompany's team, currently 5th in the Championship standings, are looking to build on a strong start to the season. They have won four of their last six league matches, a run that includes a 3-1 victory over Sheffield United last time out.
The Clarets have been strong on the road this season, picking up 13 points from their seven away games. They will be looking to close the gap on the automatic promotion places, currently sitting just three points behind second-placed Leeds United. Key players like Lyle Foster, who has six league goals this term, will be central to Burnley's attacking plans. The team's defensive record is also solid, having conceded only 12 goals in 13 matches.
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany is expected to have a near full-strength squad to choose from, with no new major injury concerns reported. The focus for his side will be on maintaining their momentum in the promotion race. Saturday's game kicks off at 3pm as Burnley aim for another three points to maintain their push. Lincoln, meanwhile, will be looking to improve their home form after a mixed start at their new stadium.
