Dyche backs ‘tough’ Marney to make Burnley return

Dean Marney’s anterior cruciate ligament damage means he will be a long-term injury absence for Burnley, but Sean Dyche has backed the ‘tough’ midfielder to make a full recovery.

Burnley slipped to 13th in the Premier League with defeat at the Emirates on Sunday and they will have to do without Marney for this weekend’s fourth-round FA Cup clash with Bristol City.

The 32-year-old was stretchered off against Arsenal and while Dyche acknowledges it is a huge blow for both Burnley and Marney, he backed his man to bounce back.

“It’s disappointing,” said the Burnley boss. “It’s the unfortunate side of being a player.

(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“Sometimes these things happen but he’s a tough-minded man and he knows he’s got the full support of everyone here.

“The only good thing is he has been through it before, so he understands the rehabilitation, how long it takes and the different markers along the journey back.

“It is a blow for him and it’s a blow for us, because he has been playing and doing very well.

“He has been an important part, not just this season, but of what we have achieved here over a number of seasons, with his experience within our group and his general experience in the game.

“You don’t want to lose any player, but certainly not at the experienced end of your market.”