Johann Berg Gudmundsson could return to the Burnley squad against Everton on Boxing Day.

The winger has been absent since suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty with Iceland in October.

He played 90 minutes for the club's Under-23 side on Saturday and has come through the match unscathed, after playing for an hour in a behind-closed-doors game last week.

Clarets boss Sean Dyche believes Gudmundsson can make a big impact in the second half of the season as Burnley look to stay at the right end of the table.

"I certainly would like to think he will get involved in the squad but whether he is in literally, he will certainly be with us," said Dyche at his pre-match press conference yesterday.

"He has looked sharp in training and I spoke to him and he said he felt great.

"One of our staff went down to watch him and said he looked, good, fit and well.

"It's another body coming back to full fitness.

"He's someone who's done very well, historically, and then he's got to fight to get back into the group."

Gudmundsson is coming to the end of his second spell on the sidelines of the season having been forced off in the 1-1 draw at Wolves earlier in August before spending more than a month out.

He returned for the reverse fixture against Everton on October 5, playing 84 minutes of the 1-0 win at Turf Moor only to get injured in his next outing, lasting just a quarter of an hour of Iceland's 1-0 defeat at home to France.

Now after laying on a goal in a 3-1 win for the Under-23s at Birmingham, he is ready to return to action.

Dyche however will be without the suspended Jeff Hendrick at Goodison Park after the midfielder received his fifth yellow card of the season during the win at Bournemouth last time out.

Winger Aaron Lennon missed training on Monday due to illness but it is hoped he will be fit in time for Boxing Day and could face the club Burnley signed him from in January 2018.

Defender Ben Gibson is not expected to part of the squad on Merseyside though due to a groin problem having pulled out of the warm-up ahead of the 1-0 win over Newcastle on December 14.