ANDRE Gray has a “strong chance” of returning for Friday night’s showdown with managerless Rotherham United, says Burnley manager Sean Dyche.

The Clarets’ record signing missed Saturday’s home game with Reading as a result of the hamstring strain he picked up in the first half of their goalless draw at Derby County.

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A scan later in the week there was no significant damage and Gray was able to take part in light training but was not passed fit for the Royals’ visit, which ended in a first home defeat for Burnley.

But Dyche is hopeful Gray’s absence will not last any longer than one game.

“I think he has a strong chance,” said the Clarets boss. “There are no guarantees, but he’s got a strong chance.

“It was only minor, it was only a precaution.”

A combination of injuries and exits mean Burnley have yet to establish a regular strike partnership this season.

Dyche started the campaign with summer signing Jelle Vossen and pre-season top scorer Lukas Jutkiewicz in the 1-1 draw at Leeds, where Sam Vokes came off the bench to equalise.

There was a change for the trip to Ipswich three games later, with Vokes starting alongside Vossen, but the Clarets failed to register a goal in their first loss of the 2015/16 campaign.

In the home win over Brentford it was Rouwen Hennings and Jutkiewicz who joined forces up front.

At Bristol City a new partnership was formed with Vokes and £6million signing Gray on his debut.

A cruciate knee ligament injury for Jutkiewicz at Ashton Gate was then followed by Vossen’s return to Belgium and Marvin Sordell’s exit.

With Hennings and summer signing Chris Long still building up match fitness, the centre forward combination of Vokes and Gray has been the most used this season.

But that partnership was broken up at the fourth attempt by Gray’s first-half withdrawal at Derby.

Hennings was given the nod alongside Vokes against Reading, and hopes he has done enough to persuade the manager to pick him again on Friday.

“Everyone wants to start and I hope the things I did on Saturday will give me a chance to play the next game and start again,” said the German striker.

Dyche may also have a decision to make in midfield, after Joey Barton made an impact from the bench on his debut.

“He’s been working hard in training, his next level of fitness is to play and sharpness is to play, which is when it really comes, but his very active in training, and we know what he is,” said the Burnley boss.

“He’s a good player - you just have to come in at the appropriate time when you are really fit.

“That will have done him the world of good though, just to get on the pitch and get a feel of the game. He played well when he came on.”