Burnley are expected to be without “phenomenal” defender Kompany for Saturday’s clash with Newcastle, as the injury saga continues to spiral out of control.
Burnley’s latest injury news
The Lancashire outfit have yet to win a single game in the Premier League this season, and are currently in the third-from-bottom spot. However, they have had a difficult start to the season, losing at home to Man City, losing to Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, drawing with Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.
Burnley face Eddie Howe’s side at St James’ Park tomorrow afternoon, and it won’t get any easier for them. Several players have been out injured recently at Turf Moor, and will be out this weekend, with the latest being Manuel Benson and Lyle Foster.
Benson is set to miss the weekend after being taken off early in last week’s EFL Cup win against Salford City with an ankle injury. Kompany said that he is likely to be out for the weekend, but is hopeful that the injury will heal quickly.
Kompany added: “It’s not great news, but in the short-term it has an effect on the weekend squad. It was a knock, so it’s a bit of both, but hopefully it won’t be too bad. It probably comes at the right time with the international break.
How good is Manuel Benson
Benson starred during his first season in England last year, playing a key role in the Championship-winning campaign with 15 goal contributions.
He was hailed as “fantastic” by Kompany as a result, who said after he scored last season: “He’s got to score five in a row. It’s not a coincidence; it’s a skill he’s got.
“It’s the same as a striker being able to peel off to the back post and head it in. I can’t be handing solutions of how to deal with him, but it’s just the things he’s been doing since he was a kid. “I’m still pushing him for tap ins- I want tap ins.
“In the end it’s something he’s comfortable doing and he will get goals that way. What he’s done for us is fantastic and from our side, that’s all we want. He’s doing well and we’re pushing him to keep doing well and I’m very happy to have him with us.”
However, in 2023/24, it has so far been a struggle for Benson, who was making just his second start of the season in the week.
The winger has played just over 90 minutes of football in all competitions and could now be missing for a short period of time. If he doesn’t return until after the international break, something Kompany has hinted, then Benson would also miss games against Luton Town and Chelsea, where hopefully, the Clarets will pick up their first league victory of the campaign.
