Burnley manager Nicky Hayen is considering a change to his team's structure for Saturday's key trip to Lincoln City, with a mounting injury crisis leaving his squad short on attacking options. The Clarets travel to Sincil Bank without nine first-team players, including strikers Jamie Vardy and Zeki Amdouni, forcing Hayen to assess his limited choices up front.
Hayen confirmed that Vardy will miss the match due to back pain, while Jacob Bruun Larsen faces a lengthy 10 to 12 weeks out with a stress fracture. This leaves the manager with three potential options for the number nine role: 18-year-old Kazakhstan international Dastan Satpaev, on-loan forward Armando Broja, and Andreas Hountondji. Satpaev can play across the front three but his minutes are managed carefully, and Broja is yet to score this season.
Nicky Hayen stressed the need for a winning structure and high quality to overcome a direct Lincoln side. "We need points and we just have to see which plan is the best to win points at Lincoln," Hayen said. He noted that Lincoln City play a physical style, relying on set-pieces, long throws and free-kicks, and warned his team must avoid dropping to an average level as they did in the final hour of their last match.
The manager pointed to the first 35 minutes of the recent 2-1 home defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers as the standard required. Burnley's form has been poor, with just one win in their opening 11 Championship games leaving them 22nd in the standings with only eight points. Their recent run reads one win, two draws and two defeats from the last five outings. The team has conceded 18 goals and scored only 11 so far this season, a key reason for their lowly position.
Hayen also provided a specific update on the fitness of midfielder Sander Berge. He revealed that Berge, who has been a regular starter, is currently managing a minor hamstring issue and is considered a doubt for the weekend. The manager said the medical staff are working to get him ready, but a final decision will be made closer to the match.
With Bruun Larsen and Vardy absent, changes on the flanks are also likely. Marcus Edwards could come straight into the starting eleven on the right, with Largie Ramazani shifting to the left. The fixture at Lincoln's LNER Stadium on 24 October represents a critical opportunity for Burnley to start climbing away from the relegation zone. Hayen concluded by stating the club is actively looking to bring in a free agent striker to bolster the squad, but no deal is imminent.
Background and full detail: burnleyexpress.net
