12:40pm Thursday 28th June 2012
By Suzanne Geldard
MICHAEL Duff could miss the start of pre-season after suffering injury on international duty with Northern Ireland.
The Burnley defender started their friendly with the Netherlands earlier this month, but came off after 62 minutes of their 6-0 defeat.
Clarets manager Eddie Howe confirmed the 33-year-old “rolled his ankle and just tweaked his knee in a tackle” during the game.
Although it is not expected to be a long-term problem, Duff may not be fit enough to take part in the early pre-season programme.
“He has been for a scan. We don’t envisage there being too many problems,” said Howe.
“We hope he can start pre-season training but if not it will just after the rest of the lads.”
“He did tweak his knee slightly and I think he would have been out for a period time in the middle of the season.
“But hopefully with the break he will be okay.
“We are going to wrap him up in cotton wool I think and hopefully get him through pre-season and the early games of the season injury-free because he proved last season what a big player he is for us.”
Meanwhile, David Edgar has been granted an extra 10 days’ rest after spending a chunk of the close season on duty with Canada.
The centre half has played in three international games this month, starting with their friendly with the United States before taking on Cuba and Honduras in World Cup qualifiers.
“David will be given an extended break,” said Howe.
“He has been travelling and playing really throughout the break so will give him an extra ten days.
“He will report back on Monday, July 16.
“You also have to remember while the other players were enjoying the international breaks he was flying all over the world so he deserves a little bit of extended rest.”
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