MICHAEL Kightly is edging closer to a Burnley comeback after undergoing minor knee surgery.

Kightly starred for the Clarets on loan from Stoke City last season before making the switch permanent this summer for a fee of around £1.5m.

The 28-year-old is yet to feature in pre-season after knee issues, but is now nearing a return.

Also improving after injury is goalkeeper Tom Heaton, who has been suffering from a calf problem.

“They’re going ever so well,” said Clarets boss Sean Dyche.

“They’re coming back slowly but surely.

“Kights has surprised us with how quickly he is coming back and is going along really nicely.

“He’s had a minor knee injury, like a tiny bone growth on the outside of his kneecap, it’s kind of strange, I’ve never known it, but it had to be removed.

“It sounds way more serious than what it is but when they slit your skin it has to recover and it’s as simple as that, so it’s just a time issue.”

Steven Reid made his first appearance of pre-season in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Blackpool, while Ashley Barnes returned from injury after missing the 2-1 defeat at Preston days earlier.