BURNLEY striker Sam Vokes is still some way from a return to first-team action – despite reports that he could be back for Wales’ two Euro 2016 qualifiers next month.

Stories surfaced yesterday claiming Vokes was hoping to be back from a cruciate knee ligament injury by the time Wales face Bosnia on October 10 and Cyprus three days later.

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But the Clarets were quick to play down those suggestions yesterday, with the player himself also knowing he faces a longer wait to return to competitive action.

Vokes has been ruled out since sustaining the knee injury in an innocuous incident during Burnley’s home loss to Leicester City in late March.

Burnley and their boss Sean Dyche have always refused to put a target date on his return but it has always been thought that a comeback around Christmas time is likely.

Vokes started light training at the end of August.

The forward said: “It’s been nearly five-and-a-half months now since my surgery so it’s slowly coming along.

“It’s fully healed now and I’m back out on the grass, running and working hard. I’m building it up every day.

“I’ve ticked the box of running straight lines and now I’m working on the twisting and turning.

“That’s the main thing – not getting carried away when you start running outside and almost full-pelt sprinting.

“You kind of think you can get involved, but when you start twisting and turning you feel all the aches and pains that come with that.

“There are a lot of boxes I need to tick off before I can announce I’m fit.”

Vokes has had to watch on from the sidelines as the Clarets have started their Premier League campaign with two points from their opening four matches.

“It’s been a tough start to the season with Chelsea, Manchester United and Swansea away in our second game of the season,” he said.

“It was a tough task for the boys but they picked up a couple of points and another good point at the weekend away from home.

“At this stage of the season we’re gaining the experience and picking up the points where we can.”

* Burnley’s development squad claimed a 3-0 victory over Fleetwood Town yesterday.

The Clarets youngsters went into the game on the back of a loss against Rochdale but were ahead in the 14th minute through striker Ntumba Massanka.

Jason Gilchrist added a second goal three minutes before half time following a pass from Alex Whitmore, with New Zealander Cameron Howieson making it 3-0 in the 80th minute.

The development squad return to action against Chelsea at the Blues’ Cobham training base on Wednesday at 2pm.