LUKAS Jutkiewicz could miss the rest of the season after being diagnosed with a cruciate knee ligament injury - Burnley’s fifth such injury in the past 18 months and fourth since January 1 this year.

And Clarets boss Sean Dyche insists the club is doing all it can to limit the number of cruciate injuries.

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The Turf chief said: “It’s very unfortunate news on Lukas and we simply can’t fathom out why we’re having such bad luck.

“We have looked at everything we do, as a club, because that’s important.

“But when you dig into the detail the players are all wearing different boots, the injuries have happened home and away and, in some cases through innocuous challenges, including Lukas’s, which was a twist on the turf.

“It’s just an incredible run of events over an 18-month period and if there is a good side to this, other players have either come through it, or are coming through it and getting fit again, so we know the protocols and the journey back.

“Lukas will now be a part of that programme in order to get him fit as soon as possible.”

The Clarets striker went down late on in the 2-1 win over Bristol City on Saturday, soon after coming off the bench as a second half substitute.

After treatment he completed the game, playing the final 10 minutes, as Burnley had already used all three subs, but he later left the ground wearing a protective brace.

Jutkiewicz’s disappointment follows similar injuries sustained by Sam Vokes, Kevin Long, Dean Marney and Ashley Barnes.

Both Marney and Long are making good progress in their recoveries and this week played 45 minutes in a private development squad game this week.

Long was injured on his Premier League debut, at Newcastle on New Year’s Day, less than a week after Vokes had made his first team comeback after having seen the latter part of the promotion season written off as the first of Burnley’s unlucky quintet.

Barnes became the next cruciate casualty, in the final game of last season at Aston Villa. It is possible he could miss all of 2015/16 and he has now been joined by Jutkiewicz.

Last night Jutkiewicz took to Twitter, saying: “Thank you everyone for all the positive messages, I really appreciate it. Challenge accepted.”