Vokes injury scare for Burnley (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Vokes injury scare for Burnley

9:55am Wednesday 13th February 2013 in News By Chris Flanagan, Sports reporter

BURNLEY striker Sam Vokes will hope for the all clear from scans today after fears of a broken foot were allayed following a two-goal appearance in a behind closed doors friendly at Stoke.

Vokes staked his claim for a place in the Clarets’ starting line-up after outshining Michael Owen with both goals in a 2-1 victory over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium yesterday afternoon.

But Vokes was then forced to hobble off an hour into the game with a foot injury.

Initial fears of a broken metatarsal proved unfounded, with the 23-year-old instead suffering severe bruising.

The forward will have scans today, though, to make sure he has not suffered any other damage to the foot.

Vokes’ double against Stoke followed his goal for Wales in their international friendly against Austria a week earlier.

The forward has dropped out of the Burnley line-up for the last two first-team games following the return from injury of Charlie Austin, but impressed during a previous run in the team and said last week that he was hoping to force his way back into the 11.

Both sides fielded strong line-ups in the behind closed doors game at the Britannia, with the Clarets giving run-outs to several players who did not start in Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Bolton – although Keith Treacy was a late withdrawal from the scheduled line-up.

Stoke included the likes of Owen, Charlie Adam, Jermaine Pennant and Wilson Palacios, but it was Vokes who decided the outcome of the game.

Burnley started well and Martin Paterson, Vokes and Dane Richards all had efforts on goal.

FROM BACK PAGE Vokes then put the Clarets ahead when Owen was dispossessed and Paterson pulled the ball back for his fellow forward to fire past Thomas Sorensen from 12 yards.

Within five minutes Vokes had a second goal, heading home from a Richards corner.

Brian Jensen was then called into action twice before half time, and Stoke’s January signing Brek Shea then pulled a goal back with a header after the interval.

Vokes was then forced off with his foot injury but Burnley finished strongly and Richards came close to adding a third goal when he fired over from Paterson’s pass.

Clarets: Jensen, O’Neill, Coleman, Long, Mills, Bartley, Stock, Richards, Vokes (Jackson 60), Paterson, Howieson (Evans 75).

Stoke: Sorensen, Lund, Palacios, Heneghan, Wilson, Pennant, Adam, Whitehead, Shea, Owen, Sidibe.

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