Portsmouth boost as Burnley suffer double injury blow to ex-Manchester City and Chelsea duo as crisis continues

Burnley are in the midst of an injury crisis ahead of Pompey’s trip to Lancashire on Saturday.

The Clarets are out of form and without a manager after Nicky Hayen was sacked following their 4-1 defeat to newly-promoted Lincoln City on the weekend.

But things were made worse at Sincil Bank, with both right-back Kyle Walker and striker Armando Broja taken off due to injury during the contest.

Broja was handed just his second start of the contest in place of Jamie Vardy, but lasted just 13 minutes before hobbling off - much to the frustration of the travelling faithful, who jeered and booed the former Chelsea man.

He was replaced by Andreas Hountondji, who then went on to score the opener before Burnley fell apart in the second half.

Burnley suffer double injury blow ahead of Pompey

And the 25-year-old is now expected to face a period on the sidelines for the Clarets, with Hayen explaining the extent of the frontman’s injury in his last act as head coach before his dismissal.

Speaking to the Burnley Express, the Belgian said: ‘His groin popped, so that’s another injury. I think so (being a serious injury), but we have to wait. But he felt it really badly.

‘I said it before, it's the feeling that everything is against us at the moment, even the ball saved on the line. You even had the ball on the post, you missed the penalty kick, so there are a lot of situations against us.

‘We didn't have the luck, but it's also reality and this is something you have to face also.’

Walker was later taken off at half-time after a disappointing first-half performance, which saw him play a costly part in Lincoln’s equaliser before the break.

However, Hayen revealed the 36-year-old’s withdrawal at Sincil Bank was down to injury, although Burnley are yet to discover the extent of his setback.

He added: ‘No, it was about an injury. I don't know [how serious].’

Walker and Broja now take the number of absentees to 15 at Turf Moor as injuries continue to rip through the squad.

The Clarets are expected to be without Ben Amos, Anel Ahmedhodzic, Jordan Beyer, Bashir Humphreys, Shurandy Sambo, Hannibal, Aaron Ramsey, Mike Tresor, Michael Obafemi and Zeki Amdouni for Pompey’s trip to Lancashire this weekend.

However, fitness calls are likely to made over Josh Cullen, Jaydon Banel and Ashley Barnes, who all featured for Burnley’s U21s against West Ham on Friday as they close in on their returns.

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Pompey injury latest ahead

As injuries hamper the 22nd-placed Clarets, John Mousinho is confident his early-season injury crisis is easing ahead of the Turf Moor visit.

The Blues, who had to name two keepers on the bench against Sheffield United, Norwich City and Wolves in recent weeks, have already welcomed back Thomas Waddingham and Franco Umeh into the ranks following their respective setbacks.

Conor Shaughnessy and Josh Murphy are both poised to complete their much-anticipated returns this weekend, according to Mousinho, who is hopeful of having the popular duo back in his ranks.

Colby Bishop, meanwhile, is set to miss around a month with a knee problem, while Mark Kosznovszky, Keshi Anderson, Benjy Arthur, John Swift, Connor Ogilvie and Luke Brooke-Smith remain out.

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