SAM Vokes believes Tom Heaton will benefit from the support of his teammates as he begins his recovery from surgery on a dislocated shoulder.

The Clarets skipper is set to be out for several months after suffering the injury in the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Turf Moor two weeks ago this weekend.

There is plenty of experience of bouncing back from long-term injuries in the Burnley squad, with Vokes himself recovering from a cruciate knee ligament injury, while Dean Marney has suffered two serious knee injuries, and Ashley Barnes and Kevin Long have also recovered from nine months on the sidelines.

"It's never nice for anyone to get injured but for Heats it was horrible, it's not a nice injury the shoulder, " Vokes said of the Clarets skipper.

"We saw him before he went for surgery, I hear everything's gone well. He'll be a big loss for us, but it gives a chance to Popey.

"I'm sure Heats will feel that (support) when he gets back in, we've had a few over the years, Deano has had a couple of serious injuries.

"To keep him in squad is huge, it's a tight-knit squad, the lads will get around him and give him support.

"It's tough, especially the first month or so when you're not at the training ground but I'm sure he'll have banter and be part of it again and hopefully it won't be too long."