Owen Coyle hopes to have a trio of Burnley players available for Saturday's early Championship kick-off away to Lancashire rivals Preston.Midfielder Chris McCann and on-loan Sunderland striker Andrew Cole both missed last weekend's 3-1 home defeat to Wolves with thigh and Achilles injuries respectively.

Defender Stanislav Varga - also on loan from Sunderland - limped out of the game with a long-standing foot injury that has required an injection.

However, Clarets boss Coyle is hoping to have all three players available for the Deepdale clash while striker Steve Jones and defender Michael Duff are edging closer to a first-team return after injury.

Coyle is also running the rule over Manchester United midfielder Richard Jones, who featured as a trialist in a midweek reserve game against Chester.

Coyle said: "He is under contract to another club at the moment, so it would be remiss of me to speak any more about him, but I like the look of him."

Kick-off is at 1pm.

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