Sean Dyche looks to have an injury concern for his team selection against Stoke City at the Britannia this Saturday following the two-week international break. On loan Chelsea midfielder, Nathaniel Cholbah was injured on Monday night in England`s Under 21 friendly 3-2 defeat to France in Brest. The 19 year old appeared to clutch at his leg midway through the first half and was withdrawn a few minutes later. It looks like he could have been struggling in training during the week after picking up a knock but he was still risked by England Under 21 gaffer, Gareth Southgate. New is awaited on the extent of the injury but at the moment he looks a doubt for the Stoke game this Saturday.
All three of Burnley`s current Under 21 internationals saw action in this game. As well as Chalobah on loan Manchester United defender, Michael Keane also made a start and played the full 90 minutes at right back. Striker, Danny Ings though this time had to be content with a place on the bench but he did make an appearance. He replaced Pritchard after 46 minutes but this time was unable to get on the score sheet despite scoring a brace in the friendly against Portugal at Turf Moor last Thursday night. That honour this time fell to Tottenham striker, Harry Kane who kept his amazing season rolling with two goals in two minutes for the visitors. It was not enough though and France came storming back .Arsenal`s French starlet Yaya Sanogo scored two goals of his own to wipe out the 2-0 lead and it was left to Kingsley Coman to rifle home shot into the top-left corner after 73 minutes to clinch the friendly win for the hosts.
Elsewhere, second-string Burnley keeper Matt Gilks might be hoping to see some action tonight in the friendly against England at Hampden Park. He looks likely though to start on the bench as understudy to David Marshall who started in Friday`s win over Ireland, while Craig Gordon is also in the squad and looking for his first Scotland appearance for four years on his return from long-term injury this season. The 32-year-old was an unused substitute in Scotland`s 3-2 defeat to England at Wembley 15 months ago and is realistic that he could play the same role again tonight.
“The England game is just as big as the Ireland match, even though it`s billed as a friendly,” Gilks said.
“It will be tough game. We look forward to games like this.
“It`s fantastic that it`s come round again, I went to Wembley last year and it`s going to be a good night.
“Of course I would love to play, but big Craig Gordon is back and it would be great to see him back in a Scottish shirt playing a game as well.
Scotland`s 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland in the Euro qualifier was bad news for Clarets defender, Stephen Ward who finished up on the losing side. He said: “People spoke about it being a bit like a derby game and it felt like it. There probably wasn`t a lot of quality in the game but it was a real battle, both teams gave it everything but we`re really disappointed to lose it the way we have.
“We felt we were well in it and should be going back to Ireland with a point. We`ve defended really well for most of the game and they`ve had one bit of quality that beat us but from our point of view it`s a really disappointing goal to give away from a set piece because we pride ourselves in defending well but we switched off at that.
“It`s going to be really tight to get out of the group. Obviously we`ve had three tough away games out of the four and I think our home form is going to determine how we do. I think three or four of the next five are at home so we have to look to that now but at the minute it hurts that we came here and didn`t get a result because I felt we were right in it, especially in the second half.”
There could be another chance for Stephen Ward to impress for the Republic of Ireland tonight. The Irish play the USA in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin (Kick-Off: 7:45pm)
Another player on international duty during the break is Cameron Howieson. He was an unused sub for New Zealand last week with his side drawing 1-1 against China in Nanchang. Howieson will now travel with the New Zealand squad for their game against Thailand in Bangkok tonight hoping to be selected for the tenth time for his country
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