BURNLEY are set to be without Matt Lowton and Phil Bardsley for Saturday’s FA Cup trip to Manchester City.

Both right backs are managing injuries and boss Sean Dyche expects Lowton to miss out while Bardsley is touch and go.

In the absence of both James Tarkowski could fill in at right back as he did in the last round against Barnsley.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson remains a doubt with a thigh problem while Aaron Lennon and Jon Walters are long-term absentees for the Clarets.

But Dyche is able to call upon Robbie Brady again after suspension.

The Clarets chief looks set to start Nick Pope in goal as he continues his return to match fitness following a shoulder injury while the likes of Sam Vokes, Matej Vydra, Steven Defour and Stephen Ward could all come into the side.

“Johann is close again, he is back on the grass but we will make a call on that,” said Dyche.

“Robbie comes out of suspension, Steven is coming back to full fitness and Wardy as well. They are getting there now, it is getting that real match fitness and edge to them.

“Bardo and Lowts are both a maybe. Lowts I don’t think will make it, he has got to rest a toe injury which we thought we could get away with but he has to rest it.

“We keep stepping closer to getting a fully fit squad and it will be a nice moment when that happens. It will be hard in one way because you have to make decisions, not just with goalkeepers but in other areas of the pitch.”

Tom Heaton is expected to be rested for the cup clash at the Etihad with Pope brought back into the XI while Joe Hart is also an option.

Dyche knows he will soon have to make a call on his keepers with three fully-fit England internationals but isn’t worried about the selection poser.

“That is life as a goalkeeper, they know the demand,” he said. “They are well aware to know each other’s styles, standards and capabilities. They don’t sit there naively, they all look at each other and think well, we are all decent.

“They all know that I can only pick one, they all want the number one shirt and it will be an ongoing challenge. There is no two ways about it.

“I think every manager wants the best squad or the best team they can have and you do get these hard decisions to make but there will be a decision that needs to be made and I will make it in due course as I see fit.”