JONATHAN Walters is set to be out for six to eight weeks after undergoing an operation on his troublesome knee.

The forward had surgery on Wednesday after a small split in his knee cartilage was continuing to trouble him.

The 34-year-old has made just five substitute appearances for the Clarets since signing from Stoke City for £2million in the summer and had been linked with a loan move away from Turf Moor during January, although the operation has ended any possibility of that.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche said the decision to go under the knife was made by Walters.

"Jon has had a minor tidy-up in his knee, there's a very small split in his cartilage. It was annoying him so the decision was made to get that tidied up," he said.

Scott Arfield could return against Manchester United this weekend, but Charlie Taylor is the latest Claret to suffer a knock.

Dyche also confirmed Stephen Ward and Chris Wood were making progress but wouldn't return for the weekend.

"Scott Arfield has got every chance of getting back involved, Charlie Taylor has a bit of a knock to his ribs but we think he's OK," Dyche said.

"Tom Heaton's back working with Billy Mercer but not with the team, doing all the things the goalies do."