BURNLEY will check the fitness of stricken pair Graham Alexander and Chris McCann today – but boss Brian Laws admits he’s not sure how long either man will be out.

The duo limped out of Tuesday’s night’s Lancashire derby defeat at Bolton and are almost certainly out of Saturday’s Turf Moor showdown with Chelsea.

But Laws will not rule either man out as yet.

He told the Lancashire Telegraph: “We are looking to assess both injuries in more depth.

“The most critical time with any injury is the first 48 hours and we are monitoring both players.

McCann looks as though he will be back in the next week but I am more cautious about Alexander, who is still sore.

“The thing about Graham is that it is so long since he has been injured, he can’t say for sure how long he thinks he will be out.

“And knowing the sort of player he is, it would not be the biggest surprise to see him roll up to training on Friday and declare himself for for the Chelsea game.”

Laws, though, is preparing for the visit of the Blues expecting to be without the pair.

And he is boosted by the return from the African Cup of Nations of Andre Bikey.

“Of course losing Alexander and McCann are two big blows as they would be for anyone,” he said.”

“But Bikey is back from international duty and Clarke Carlisle came through his return so there are positives to take from it.”